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   deter

   /dɪˈtəː/

   verb

   • 1. discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences: "only a health problem would deter him from seeking re-election" Similar put offdiscouragedissuadescare offwarncautiondisheartendemoralizedauntmake worried/nervous/anxiousfrightenunnerveintimidateOpposite encourage
   • ▪ prevent the occurrence of: "strategists think not only about how to deter war, but about how war might occur" Similar preventstopput a stop toavertnip in the budfend offturn asidestave offward offhead offshut outblockintercepthaltarrestcheckstaykeephinderimpedehamperobstructbalkfoilthwartobviatefrustrateforestallcounteractinhibithold backcurbrestrainprecludepre-emptsavehelparchaic:letOpposite encourage

   Word Origin mid 16th century: from Latin deterrere, from de- ‘away from’ + terrere ‘frighten’.

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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