Meaning & use
deterrent
Last updated
Something that discourages a person from taking a particular action, especially by making them fear the consequences.
See it in a sentence
Higher fines are meant to act as a deterrent to speeding.
Some countries maintain large militaries as a deterrent against invasion.
A note on using this word
Deterrent is common in discussions of crime, punishment, and international relations, where the goal is to prevent an action before it happens.
Words with a similar meaning
discouragementdisincentive
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
incentiveencouragement
Make it your own
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