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Showing results for deterrent.
Definitions

deterrent

[dih-tur-uhnt, -tuhr-, -ter-] / dɪˈtɜr ənt, -ˈtʌr-, -ˈtɛr- /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The risk of getting attacked is the main deterrent to ship traffic, and U.S. officials have made contradictory comments about the number of mines and the risk they pose.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Our adversaries or neutral powers may do this, as a deterrent against American aggression.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2026

The pollution is also increasingly a deterrent for tourists, who form a key pillar of the region's economy.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Iran has long cultivated militia allies across the Middle East as a way to project power and as a deterrent against attack.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Assume for a moment that the death penalty Is a deterrent.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt




Vocabulary lists containing deterrent