dissuade

verb

dis·​suade di-ˈswād How to pronounce dissuade (audio)
dissuaded; dissuading

transitive verb

1
a
: to advise (a person) against something
dissuading us from base thoughts, low ends, ignoble gains …A. T. Quiller-Couch
b
archaic : to advise against (an action)
2
: to turn from something by persuasion
unable to dissuade him from going
dissuader noun

Examples of dissuade in a Sentence

Our warnings did not dissuade them. tried to dissuade her from her intention to drop out of college
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That information might have dissuaded the Heat from pursuing a trade for Rozier. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025 Last week, Phypers was arrested in court and charged with four felonies — two counts of injuring a spouse and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Phypers is facing criminal charges, including two counts of injuring a spouse, cohabitant, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend or child's parent; and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025 Ongoing immigration raids can spook heavily-immigrant communities, dissuading some kids from going to school. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dissuade

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French dissuader, from Latin dissuadēre, from dis- + suadēre to urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dissuade was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Dissuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissuade. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

dissuade

verb
dis·​suade dis-ˈwād How to pronounce dissuade (audio)
dissuaded; dissuading
: to persuade or advise not to do something

More from Merriam-Webster on dissuade

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