Deter
Prevent
Prevent verb - To keep from happening by taking action in advance.
Usage example: a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better
Deter is a synonym for prevent in action topic. You can use "Deter" instead a verb "Prevent", if it concerns topics such as obstruct, disallow, discourage.
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
-
Mutually Assured Destruction: Duncan, at least, believes this is the best way to prevent the Cold War on the server from becoming a hot one: he installs three nukes under Blackrock Hold in order to deter Rythian from attacking.
- This means that, while the specifics are left up to the DM's discretion, there is nothing in the basic rules to prevent or even deter a rogue from pickpocketing the enemy's potions off their person in the middle of combat.
Source: Video Game Stealing
Cite this Source
Prevent and Deter. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/deter/prevent
Deter & Prevent. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/deter/prevent>.
Prevent or Deter. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/deter/prevent.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "deter" and "prevent" have occurred on timeline