dissuade

verb

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

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

Synonyms

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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.
Beijing also sought to dissuade other ethnic armed organizations from working with the NUG and instructed them to negotiate with the junta. — Ye Myo Hein, Foreign Affairs, 17 Apr. 2025 Italy tries to dissuade Trump All eyes are meanwhile on Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who is meeting President Trump on Thursday. — Silvia Amaro, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025 Anyway, as Ava did not think to spray bear pee at the door — and remember: The bear has to be male — Deborah will not be dissuaded from running the writers’ room or the kitchen. — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025 Does that dissuade you from being the smartest person in the room? — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 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

Rhymes for dissuade

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Browse Nearby Words

dissuadable
dissuade
dissuasion
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dissuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissuade. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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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

Nglish: Translation of dissuade for Spanish Speakers

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