deter
verb (used with object)
to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding.
were deterring
-
past progressiveof deter.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
But obvious security risks were deterring private investments, crucial for a robust recovery.
From Reuters ● Feb. 27, 2023
“The organizations he founded were new and fragile, and he was worried that the heavy police presence and heavy security … were deterring people from coming to his meetings.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 18, 2021
William A. Smith, a Dallas-based attorney, said the high bonds for those arrested were deterring witnesses from coming forward.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2015
The General Medical Council said high-profile cases and a concern about complaints by parents were deterring doctors from raising the alarm.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2012
Worries over fraud were deterring many companies from expanding in some key emerging markets.
From Reuters ● Oct. 18, 2010
