deter
verb (used with object)
to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding.
deters
-
present tense formof deter (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s so obsessed with being the best that three broken arms suffered from falls, along with a compression back fracture, hardly deters him to think twice about flying through the air trying to perform tricks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
That’s what “nuclear deterrence” is all about; the possession of nuclear weapons deters others from behaving aggressively.
From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2026
Evidence that the CTA deters real criminals is thin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
He said this was because the changes were "fraught with hoops you have to jump through" that "deters a lot of people from even bothering".
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
The others have turned pale; let’s hope it deters them.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
