deterrent
gb/dɪtˈɚɹənt/ us/dɪtˈɚɹənt/
B2
Engleză
~ 9600
Sensuri
0 sensuri
Substantiv
B2
entity
1
Thing that discourages an action
Something that makes people not want to do something.
Tipar de utilizare:
[something] is a deterrent to/against [action]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun 'deterrent' with the verb 'deter'. Use 'deterrent' as a thing: 'This law is a deterrent to crime.' Use 'deter' as a verb: 'This law deters crime.' Also, the common prepositions are 'to' and 'against': 'a deterrent to crime', 'a deterrent against theft', not 'a deterrent for crime' in standard usage.
Sinonime
disincentive (Often used for financial or policy-related things that reduce motivation.)
|
discouragement (More general and emotional; not always about stopping a specific action.)
|
hindrance (Focuses on making something harder rather than on changing someone’s decision.)
Antonime
incentive (Something that makes people more likely to do something, often through reward.)
|
encouragement (Emotional or verbal support that makes someone want to do something.)
Colocații
serve as a deterrent
|act as a deterrent
|strong deterrent
|effective deterrent
|provide a deterrent
|deterrent to crime
Teme
law
|society
|crime
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Exemple
- The high cost of parking is a deterrent to people who might otherwise drive into the city center.
- Harsh penalties are meant to be a deterrent against drunk driving.
- Visible security cameras can act as a deterrent to theft in stores.
- For many students, the risk of failing the exam is a strong deterrent to skipping class.
- The lack of public transport is a serious deterrent to working in that area.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The new fine is a deterrent to smoking in public places.
- A dog at the door can be a deterrent to thieves.
- Long prison sentences are used as a deterrent against serious crime.
- Bad weather was a deterrent to our weekend plans.
- The loud alarm is a deterrent to anyone who tries to break in.
adjective
B2
property
2
Preventing or discouraging something
Able to stop or reduce an action by making people afraid or unwilling to do it.
Tipar de utilizare:
deterrent [noun]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes say *'very deterrent'* instead of using it with a noun, as in 'a strong deterrent effect' or 'highly deterrent measures'. 'Deterrent' is usually followed by a noun (effect, measures, policy) rather than used alone like 'good' or 'bad'.
Sinonime
discouraging (More general and emotional; not always linked to rules or punishment.)
|
preventive (Focuses on stopping something before it happens, often in medical or policy contexts.)
Antonime
encouraging (Makes an action more likely instead of less likely.)
|
permissive (Allows actions easily, giving little or no attempt to stop them.)
Colocații
deterrent effect
|deterrent measures
|deterrent policy
|deterrent role
|deterrent action
|deterrent strategy
Teme
law
|policy
|crime
|core_vocabulary
|emotions
Exemple
- The possibility of losing their license has a strong deterrent effect on reckless drivers.
- The government introduced deterrent measures to reduce tax evasion.
- Heavy fines are used as a deterrent punishment for illegal dumping.
- Public shaming can sometimes have a deterrent influence on bad behavior.
- They argued that the law lacks any real deterrent power.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The high price has a deterrent effect on buyers.
- The company brought in deterrent rules to stop late work.
- Stronger, deterrent laws may reduce corruption.
- Good street lights can have a deterrent effect on crime.
- These deterrent steps made students think twice about cheating.
Substantiv
formal
C1
entity
3
Military power preventing enemy attack
The military power, especially nuclear weapons, that a country keeps to stop other countries from attacking it.
Tipar de utilizare:
[country] maintains a [type] deterrent
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners may not realize this sense is mainly used in political and military discussions, usually in fixed phrases like 'nuclear deterrent' or 'strategic deterrent'. It does not refer to everyday punishments or small threats.
Sinonime
military deterrent (More explicit about the military nature; otherwise the same basic idea.)
|
defensive capability (Broader; includes general defense, not only the power to frighten enemies.)
Antonime
disarmament (The reduction or removal of weapons instead of keeping them as a threat.)
|
vulnerability (A state of weakness that invites attack rather than deterring it.)
Colocații
nuclear deterrent
|credible deterrent
|strategic deterrent
|effective deterrent
|deterrent capability
|deterrent force
Teme
military
|politics
|international_relations
|law
Exemple
- They argue that a credible nuclear deterrent is essential for national security.
- Some politicians question whether the country still needs an independent deterrent.
- Modernization of the strategic deterrent has become a major political issue.
- The alliance depends on a shared deterrent to discourage any potential aggressor.
- Critics say the cost of maintaining the deterrent is too high.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The country keeps a nuclear deterrent to stop other nations from attacking.
- Leaders said their deterrent is only for protection, not for attack.
- Many people debate if the nuclear deterrent is still necessary.
- They want to reduce the size of the deterrent to save money.
- The strong deterrent made enemy countries afraid to start a war.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
deterrent
IPA
GB/dɪtˈɚɹənt/
US/dɪtˈɚɹənt/
Silabe și accent
de - terrent (2 silabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (terrent)
Forme ale cuvântului
Adjective
- Base: deterrent
Noun
- Base: deterrent
- Plural: deterrents
Familie de cuvinte
Forms
deterrents
noun
Core family
deter
verb B2
deterrence
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
undeterred
adjective
Expresii
act as a deterrent
1/ˈækt ˈæz ə dɪtˈɚɹənt/
fixed phrase
Behave in a way that discourages
To have the effect of stopping or reducing an action because people are afraid of the result.
Exemple
- High taxes may act as a deterrent to investment.
- Bright lighting can act as a deterrent to vandalism.
- Strict school rules act as a deterrent against bullying.
deterrent effect
1/dɪtˈɚɹənt ɪfˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
Effect that discourages an action
The result of something that makes people less likely to do something.
Exemple
- There is little evidence that the death penalty has a deterrent effect.
- Experts doubt that these laws will have any real deterrent effect.
- The visible cameras seem to have a deterrent effect on shoplifters.
nuclear deterrent
1/nˈukliɚ dɪtˈɚɹənt/
fixed phrase
formal
Nuclear weapons preventing attack
A supply of nuclear weapons that a country keeps to stop other countries from attacking it.
Exemple
- The government is debating whether to renew its nuclear deterrent.
- Some argue that a strong nuclear deterrent keeps the peace.
- They questioned the cost of maintaining the nuclear deterrent.
serve as a deterrent
1/sˈɚv ˈæz ə dɪtˈɚɹənt/
fixed phrase
Function to discourage an action
To be something that makes people not want to do something.
Exemple
- The new fines are meant to serve as a deterrent to littering.
- Visible police patrols serve as a deterrent against street crime.
- Harsh penalties can serve as a deterrent to future offenses.