Meaning & use
deterrence
The act or policy of discouraging an action by making the threatened consequences seem too costly or risky.
See it in a sentence
Nuclear deterrence was the central strategy of both superpowers during the Cold War.
The company relies on strict penalties as a form of deterrence against employee theft.
A note on using this word
Deterrence is most often discussed in the context of military strategy, criminal justice, or workplace policy, and pairs commonly with 'strategy', 'policy', and 'effect'.
Words with a similar meaning
discouragementprevention
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
encouragement
Make it your own
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