DETERRED Synonyms: 16 Similar and Opposite Words

deterred

verb

past tense of deter

as in dissuaded

to steer (a person) from an activity or course of action we tried to deter him from his crazy scheme, but to no avail

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deterred Officials said the operation deterred criminal activity and strengthened coordination but released no before-and-after data showing whether drone traffic subsequently declined. — Armando Regil Velasco, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 For Beccaria, an execution’s fleeting spectacle deterred less effectively than lifelong penal servitude. — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 Hyperscalers aren’t slaphappy consumers who might be deterred by higher interest rates. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Airfare prices were up more than 23% from the same time a year earlier, according to inflation data released in September, but Delta CEO Ed Bastian said higher fares haven't deterred travelers. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 And despite what some say is a slowdown in the lifestyle sneaker space, Pruitt is not deterred. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 But Darius is not deterred, and keeps trying to make the shot. — Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Sep. 2026 Just like against North Carolina, the penalties often deterred the momentum of offensive drives. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Sep. 2026 And that has been an argument that successfully deterred or slowed down regulation. — Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterred

Verb

Analysts have said the film was challenging to market, given a major twist in the plot, and that Cruise’s nearly unrecognizable appearance could have dissuaded his fan base from coming out to support the film.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
The city’s leaders proposed installing parking meters as long ago as 1946 — until the chamber dissuaded them from doing so, according to an account on the Golden history website Golden Today.

— John Aguilar, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of dissuaded

Verb

When several of the women refused to surrender the children to Xuan and Zhang after abuse allegations surfaced last year, Majerus said, the couple’s attorney discouraged them from fighting for custody.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
You would likely be discouraged from doing so, and sometimes restrained by the governing laws.

— Ozan Ozerk, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of discouraged

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determining

deterred

deterrence

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“Deterred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterred. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deterred

verb

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