dissuade

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dissuade" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to encourage someone against doing something. For example: "I tried to dissuade him from taking the job, but he was determined to take it anyway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We will not seek to dissuade migrants from risking their lives with posters or radio spots but rather with the most persuasive means out there: the voices of survivors and the family members of missing migrants".

The Guardian

The total number of Indians who have tried to travel to the Middle East to fight is unclear as many local police forces prefer not to officially register cases against individuals but to rely on family pressure to "dissuade and deradicalise" them, a senior Mumbai policeman said.

The Guardian

I don't think there's any amount of data that can dissuade those who reject "the war on women" based on their positive personal relationships with women.

The Guardian - Opinion

The papers also show that the foreign secretary, David Miliband, chose to keep the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in the dark in advance about the UK decision to sign the PTA with Libya, fearing she would seek to dissuade him.

The Guardian

The court reasoned it could constitute an attempt to pervert the course of justice as it intended to dissuade a police officer from investigating an offence.

The Guardian

When I quit school at 17 to focus on music, Dad didn't try to dissuade me, even though he got a lot of stick from my teachers because he was the school window cleaner.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"However... some of the Labour party's tax and regulatory proposals would dissuade enterprise, aspiration, and business growth" Sean Farrell Key policies Cut university tuition fees by £3,000.

The Guardian

Utter folly, from which friends could not dissuade her.

The Guardian

But in fact his father had gone to some lengths, if not to dissuade his son, at least to make him appreciate the less glamorous sides.

The Guardian

Obama's efforts to dissuade sceptics in his own party from undermining the agreement were dealt an unexpected boost on Thursday, when Bob Menendez, a Democratic hawk and a thorn in the administration's side on Iran, was criminally indicted.

The Guardian

Obviously, workers get disheartened and reduce their demand for work even when they need it; in other cases, the state and local authorities try to dissuade them or do not register their demand because they do not have the funds to provide the required work.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dissuade", clearly state the reason for discouraging the action. This adds weight to your argument and makes it more persuasive.

Common error

Avoid using "dissuade" when encouraging someone to do something positive. "Dissuade" is specifically for discouraging negative or undesirable actions. Use "encourage" or "persuade" instead for positive actions.

Linguistic Context

Dissuade functions primarily as a verb. It describes the action of discouraging someone from a particular course of action. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

11%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dissuade" is a verb used to convince someone not to do something. Ludwig AI affirms its correct usage. It's grammatically sound, frequently used, and found in various contexts, especially in news and media. To use "dissuade" effectively, provide clear reasons for discouraging the action. Remember to avoid using it for encouraging positive actions, and use alternatives like "discourage" or "deter" for similar meanings. Its antonym is "persuade".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dissuade from

More grammatically specific, emphasizing the action being avoided.

discourage

Shares the core meaning of advising against something, but can imply a weaker effort than "dissuade".

deter

Implies preventing action through fear or obstacles, which is a stronger form of discouragement.

advise against

More direct and advisory, lacking the persuasive element of "dissuade".

urge not to

This alternative focuses on imploring or advising

talk out of

Informal and implies convincing someone through conversation.

Talk someone out of

This alternative focuses on convincing someone through conversation

warn against

Highlights the potential negative consequences, focusing on caution.

inhibit

Similar to deter, it denotes preventing an action from happening

prevent

Indicates an active stop, rather than convincing to not act.

FAQs

How do you use "dissuade" in a sentence?

"Dissuade" is used to convince someone not to do something. For example, "I tried to "dissuade" her from quitting her job."

What's a synonym for "dissuade"?

Synonyms for "dissuade" include "discourage", "deter", and "advise against".

Is it correct to say "dissuade to do something"?

No, the correct usage is "dissuade from doing something". For example, "I tried to "dissuade" him from going."

What's the difference between "dissuade" and "persuade"?

"Dissuade" means to convince someone not to do something, while "persuade" means to convince someone to do something. They are opposites.