deterrent - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

deterrent Add to list Share · noun. something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress. synonyms: balk, baulk, check, handicap, hinderance, ... deterrent Adeterrentmakesyounotwanttodosomething.Let'ssaythere'sagiantpileofcookiesbeingguardedbyanangrydog—thedogisadeterrent. Peopletalkaboutdeterrentsmostoftenwhendiscussingcrime.Thedeathpenaltyissupposedtobeadeterrent—theideaisthatpeoplewillbesoscaredofthedeathpenaltythattheywon'tcommitcertaincrimes.Jailisanotherdeterrent.Teachersalsousedeterrents—thepossibilityofgettingdetentionisadeterrentthatshouldencouragestudentstobehave.Adeterrentistheoppositeofareward.Arewardencouragesyoutodotherightthing,whileadeterrentdiscouragesyoufromdoingthewrongthing. Definitionsofdeterrent noun somethingimmaterialthatinterfereswithordelaysactionorprogress synonyms: balk,baulk,check,handicap,hinderance,hindrance,impediment seemoreseeless types: show10types... hide10types... albatross,millstone (figurative)somethingthathindersorhandicaps bind somethingthathindersasifwithbonds dirimentimpediment (canonlaw)animpedimentthatinvalidatesamarriage(suchastheexistenceofapriormarriage) drag somethingthatslowsordelaysprogress obstacle,obstruction somethingimmaterialthatstandsinthewayandmustbecircumventedorsurmounted straitjacket anythingimmaterialthatseverelyhindersorconfines barrier,roadblock anyconditionthatmakesitdifficulttomakeprogressortoachieveanobjective hang-up,hitch,rub,snag anunforeseenobstacle hurdle anobstaclethatyouareexpectedtoovercome stymie,stymy athwartinganddistressingsituation typeof: difficulty afactorcausingtroubleinachievingapositiveresultortendingtoproduceanegativeresult adjective tendingtodeter “the deterrenteffectsofhighprices” Synonyms: preventative,preventive tendingtopreventorhinder WordFamily Signupnow(it’sfree!) Whetheryou’reateacheroralearner,Vocabulary.comcanputyouoryourclassonthepathtosystematicvocabularyimprovement. Getstarted ForEveryone PlaytheChallenge VocabularyLists Dictionary CommonlyConfusedWords JoinaVocabularyJam TestPrep ForEducators Classroom&SiteLicense Pricing ContactSales SuccessStories ProfessionalDevelopment Research Help HelpArticles/FAQ How-toVideos Webinars ContactSupport PrivacyPolicy TermsofUse Leaderboards VocabularyBowl BowlLeaders Today'sLeaders WeeklyLeaders MonthlyLeaders Connect Vocabulary.comBlog News&Events Telluswhatyouthink OurStory OurMission Team/Jobs Partnerships MyAccount Login Signup MyAccount LogOut MyProfile Schools&Teachers MyClasses MySATRoadmap MyTOEFLRoadmap Assignments&Activities MyLists FindaListtoLearn... CreateaNewList... MyProgress WordsI'mLearning MyTroubleWords WordsI'veMastered MyAchievements UserAdministration UserAuthentication MyAccount Copyright©2021Vocabulary.com,Inc.,adivisionofIXLLearning•AllRightsReserved.