deterrent

7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for deterrent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Acting to discourage someone from doing something.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

check

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

handicap

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

impediment hindrance balk baulk hinderance

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Acting to discourage someone from doing something.

“The fine is meant to have a deterrent effect on speeding.”

check handicap impediment hindrance balk baulk hinderance

Opposites

attractive

2. noun

Something that discourages an action, especially through fear of consequences.

“A visible alarm system can be a strong deterrent to burglars.”

handicap balk hindrance baulk impediment hinderance check

Opposites

incentive

How to use deterrent

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

act as a deterrent deterrent effect nuclear deterrent

Etymology

From Latin deterrens, the present participle of deterrere ("to frighten away, deter").

Full origin of deterrent →

Frequently asked questions

What does “deterrent” mean?

The word “deterrent” means acting to discourage someone from doing something. In plain terms, something put in place to scare or discourage people from doing something.

How do you pronounce “deterrent”?

“Deterrent” is pronounced dih-TEH-ruhnt (/dɪˈtɝənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “deterrent” in a sentence?

Here is “deterrent” used in a sentence: “The fine is meant to have a deterrent effect on speeding.”

What part of speech is “deterrent”?

Depending on how it is used, “deterrent” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “deterrent” come from?

The word “deterrent” comes from Latin. From Latin deterrens, the present participle of deterrere ("to frighten away, deter").

Is “deterrent” a common word?

“Deterrent” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “deterrent” have?

“Deterrent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: acting to discourage someone from doing something.

People also searched

check attractive incentive handicap impediment hindrance hinderance balk

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of deterrent