deterrent

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.

Germany has asked France to extend its independent nuclear deterrent to European partners, something France agreed to this month.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 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

While he has conveyed how serious his Chinese counterpart is about the issue, he has also suggested that his personal relationship with Xi acts as a temporary deterrent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

That can serve as a deterrent to starting wars in the region, he said, but “also makes them more difficult to wind down.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

Like the majority of American law-enforcement officials, Dewey is certain that capital punishment is a deterrent to violent crime, and he felt that if ever the penalty had been earned, the present instance was it.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote