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.
Image Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Don’t let Emily Wilde’s practical-seeming diary entries dissuade you: Fawcett’s novel, the first book in a series, is witty, frank and incredibly endearing. Ashley Poston, New York Times, 21 May 2025 The dissuading a witness charge against the father stems from what the prosecution said allegedly happened after the boy stopped breathing and his mother carried his limp body upstairs. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025 Much of the challenge, quite simply, lies in the German language — American consumers tend to be dissuaded by unfamiliar grape names, complex labels and Germany’s famously intricate classification system. Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025 However, the World Series MVP hopes his performance dissuades any narratives surrounding his age. Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dissuade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissuade. Accessed 3 Jun. 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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