deterred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deterred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of discouraging someone from taking a particular action or pursuing a specific course due to fear, doubt, or other reasons. Example: "The harsh weather conditions deterred many hikers from attempting the summit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It will, of course, never be known if any among our number in the common room were potential rapists who have now been deterred.

The Guardian

Promise-breaking corporations are supposed to be deterred by the threat of a "cold shoulder", a bar on City institutions doing business with buyers who break their word.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it feels like the daily default of anonymity is now out of date, sabotaging otherwise interesting stories that deserve input, and creating an intimidating environment for readers that are deterred from making a valuable contribution.

The Guardian - Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 2.36pm BST14:36 Preamble Good morning from Hyde Park, where sullen skies, September temperatures and horrendous delays on the Piccadilly Line haven't deterred thousands of people showing up to – hopefully – watch history in the making.

The Guardian - Sport

But publicly the administration remained unmoved, possibly deterred by the outrage born of the previous trade.

The Guardian

Too much of that and the barricades come down, it becomes very difficult to travel to and from the affected countries, and health workers are deterred from volunteering (they are the biggest need now)." Travel and quarantine fears have made reporting from the ground – something the Guardian should do more despite its overall good coverage – really difficult for all news organisations.

The Guardian - Opinion

This isn't ideal, but then many Muslims appear deterred by the notion of fighting as part of the British forces in Muslim countries.

The Guardian

They jostled and shouted at women, made offensive, frightening and misleading statements, and were so intimidating that some patients had been deterred from attending the clinic at all, Hanks said.

The Guardian

He said the Palestinian leadership would not be deterred by threats, such as the warnings from Washington and Israel that they could cut funds to the Palestinian Authority.

The Guardian

Until a few weeks ago, close aides predicted Sanders would decline to the enter the race at all, deterred by the mountain of money that increases national exposure.

The Guardian

I had been given unusually detailed instructions about how to find him in his Soho offices – as if he were in hiding rather than at work: "It looks a little unlikely but don't be deterred, you're in the right place.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deterred" when you want to convey that something or someone was successfully discouraged from doing something due to potential negative consequences or obstacles. It implies that the discouraging factor was effective.

Common error

Avoid using "deterred" if the action you're describing was merely delayed or made more difficult, rather than completely prevented. "Delayed" or "hindered" might be more appropriate if the action still occurred despite the discouraging factors.

Linguistic Context

The word "deterred" functions primarily as a past participle or past tense verb, indicating that an action has been discouraged or prevented. Ludwig examples show its use across varied contexts, from discouraging criminal behavior to influencing investment decisions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "deterred" functions as a past participle or past tense verb, signifying that an action has been discouraged or prevented. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and very common. Predominantly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, it carries a neutral to formal tone. When using "deterred", ensure it accurately reflects that the action was truly prevented, not merely delayed. Alternatives such as "prevented", "discouraged", and "dissuaded" offer nuanced substitutes depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevented

Emphasizes stopping an action from occurring.

discouraged

Highlights the loss of enthusiasm or motivation to proceed.

dissuaded

Focuses on convincing someone not to do something through reasoning or persuasion.

inhibited

Suggests a hindering or restraint, often internal or psychological.

restrained

Implies holding back or controlling an action.

hindered

Indicates an obstacle or impediment that slows down progress.

impeded

Similar to 'hindered', but often suggests a more significant obstruction.

averted

Focuses on preventing something negative or dangerous from happening.

thwarted

Emphasizes the frustration of plans or efforts.

forestalled

Highlights acting in advance to prevent something.

FAQs

How can I use "deterred" in a sentence?

You can use "deterred" to show that someone or something was discouraged from doing something, for example: "The high cost of the tickets "deterred" many potential buyers."

What's a good alternative to "deterred"?

Alternatives to "deterred" include "prevented", "discouraged", or "dissuaded", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "deterred from"?

Yes, it is correct to say "deterred from". It is a common construction that indicates something or someone was discouraged or prevented from taking a specific action. For example: "He was "deterred" from committing the crime."

What is the difference between "deterred" and "prevented"?

"Deterred" implies that someone was discouraged or dissuaded from doing something, while "prevented" means that the action was completely stopped. For example, a sign might deter someone from trespassing, but a locked gate would prevent it.