deterrent

[ dih-tur-uhnt, -tuhr-, -ter- ]

/ dɪˈtɜr ənt, -ˈtʌr-, -ˈtɛr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deterrent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

serving or tending to deter.

noun

something that deters: a deterrent to crime.

military strength or an ability to defend a country or retaliate strongly enough to deter an enemy from attacking.

Nearby words

determine, determined, determiner, determinism, deterrence, deterrent, detersive, detest, detestable, detestation, dethatch

Origin of deterrent

1820–30; < Latin dēterrent- (stem of dēterrēns), present participle of dēterrēre. See deter, -ent

SYNONYMS FOR deterrent

2 restraint, curb, check, hindrance.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR deterrent ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

de·ter·rent·ly, adverbnon·de·ter·rent, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for deterrent

This is supposed to act as a deterrent, but may be an incitement.
In Jerusalem Home Demolitions, the Biblical Justice of Revenge|Creede Newton|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Prosecutors described the verdict and the sentencing as a “deterrent.”
Egyptian Court Hands Down Stiff Sentences for Al-Jazeera Journalists|Jesse Rosenfeld|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Still, there may be a deterrent for women that is far less spoken about, at least in polite circles.
C’mon, Ladies, Masturbation Isn’t Just for Bad Girls|Emily Shire|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Concealed carry is good for responding to a crime in progress; open carry is a deterrent to it.
A Gun Owner Speaks: My Case for Open Carry|CJ Grisham|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These steps would be plausible, purely defensive, and a deterrent for starters.
Obama Must Show He’ll Use Military Means to Deter Russia in Ukraine|Leslie H. Gelb|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We have been assured that such a regulation was, at an early day, in force at York, as a deterrent from drunkenness.
Toronto of Old|Henry Scadding
This is a deterrent which only acts beneficially when punishment is certain, or nearly certain.
London|Walter Besant
It furnishes a deterrent for the evil doer and a tremendous incentive for the man who desires to obey natural law and be happy.
Elementary Theosophy|L. W. Rogers
Pick out ideals in business, and eliminate from your path all deterrent influences.
Dollars and Sense|Col. Wm. C. Hunter
A deterrent, a threat, a place to point to as a warning not to break the law?
Take the Reason Prisoner|John Joseph McGuire

British Dictionary definitions for deterrent

deterrent

/ (dɪˈtɛrənt) /

noun

something that deters

a weapon or combination of weapons, esp nuclear, held by one state, etc, to deter attack by another

adjective

tending or used to deter; restraining

Derived Forms

deterrence, noun

Word Origin for deterrent

C19: from Latin dēterrēns hindering; see deter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

deterrent

adjective

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of deterrent

SYNONYMS FOR deterrent

Related forms

Examples from the Web for deterrent

British Dictionary definitions for deterrent

deterrent

noun

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for deterrent