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.
"There is need for a stiff deterrent sentence," Judge Gichobi said, noting the "rising cases of dealing in large quantities of garden ants and the negative ecological side effects".
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
Takahashi says legal action has "a deterrent effect" on online trolls, many of whom he says are in their teens or early 20s.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
Our adversaries or neutral powers may do this, as a deterrent against American aggression.
From Slate • Apr. 8, 2026
Swift and effective prosecution can be a much stronger deterrent to misconduct than regulations that aim to prevent misconduct but rarely do.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Any parent who has ever said to a recalcitrant child, “Okay, I’m going to count to ten and this time I’m really going to punish you,” knows the difference between deterrent and empty threat.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Vocabulary lists containing deterrent
The Book Thief
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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This Week in Words: April 14 - 20, 2018
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