as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
the homeowner put up a fence around his garden as a deterrent for animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preventive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deterrent
Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 9 May 2023
The First Circuit agreed with the lower court, holding that FBAR penalties — acknowledged to be partly deterrent in nature — are not subject to the constitutional protection against excessive fines.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
One area in which this has happened—and another example of the deterrent effect of the threat of total war—is Washington’s deliberate restriction of Ukraine’s ability to attack Russian territory, at least in ways that involve Western weapons.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Feb. 2023
Vale responded by arguing that Trump's frauds impacted consumers by inserting false and misleading information into the marketplace, and that Trump's fine has a deterrent effect.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deterrent
Adjective
That sustained dip was due, Clayton guesses, to the deterrent effect of the operation on potential booter customers.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 9 May 2023
The First Circuit agreed with the lower court, holding that FBAR penalties — acknowledged to be partly deterrent in nature — are not subject to the constitutional protection against excessive fines.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
One area in which this has happened—and another example of the deterrent effect of the threat of total war—is Washington’s deliberate restriction of Ukraine’s ability to attack Russian territory, at least in ways that involve Western weapons.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Feb. 2023
Vale responded by arguing that Trump's frauds impacted consumers by inserting false and misleading information into the marketplace, and that Trump's fine has a deterrent effect.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deterrent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deterrent
Noun
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Your passion must propel you forward when obstacles arise.—
Jay Ruderman,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
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Significant obstacles remain: insufficient private investment, market fragmentation across 27 member states, and regulatory complexity could undermine Europe's ambitions.—
Federico Guerrini,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Physical fitness in older adults should not be viewed as optional, but rather as a core component of preventive care.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The preliminary data, presented Monday at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in San Diego, analyzed biomarkers on 54 participants in an ongoing preventive neurology study called the Biorepository Study for Neurodegenerative Diseases, or BioRAND.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Join 80 others in the comments View Comments The documentation required by each state also varies, and ID seekers discussing the REAL ID process online have commented on hurdles for people who have had name changes or other inconsistencies in their documentation.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2025
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The documentation required by each state also varies, and ID seekers discussing the REAL ID process online have commented on hurdles for people who have had name changes or other inconsistencies in their documentation.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Trump has long believed that EU tariffs and non-tariff barriers had unfairly restricted U.S. sales of automobiles and other goods.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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India and China also have some non-trade barriers, noted Sung Won Sohn, professor of finance and economics at Loyola Marymount University and chief economist at SS Economics.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Social media posts by Ukrainian soldiers in the last few days describe fears of possible encirclement in one location and breach of a defensive line in another.—
Andrew Carey and Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
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The defensive line is another group that stands out with its physicality and the versatility of the unit.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In November 2021, Burke was sentenced to 46 years in jail for assault and obstruction of justice.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2025
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Remember to check your outdoor AC units and remove leaves or any other obstructions that can cause blockages or safety hazards.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Court records show that CGV was keen to avoid embarrassment associated with the deal.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2025
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The term had the slightly kitschy flavor of other Cold War embarrassments—C.I.A. spy cats and Reds-under-the-bed paranoia.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deterrent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deterrent. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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