Standard Lemma guide

deterrence

noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /dɪˈtɛɹəns/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /dɪˈtɝɹəns/
  • US: /dɪˈtʌɹəns/
  • US: /diˈtɝɹəns/
  • US: /diˈtʌɹəns/
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 T ER1 AH0 N S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of deterring, or the state of being deterred.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The policy relies on nuclear deterrence.
  • Strict penalties act as a deterrence against theft.
  • effective deterrence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An action taken by states or alliances of nations against equally powerful alliances to prevent hostile action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • policy of deterrence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The art of producing in one's enemy the fear of attacking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The art of producing in one's enemy the fear of attacking.

Nuclear deterrence: discouraging nuclear attack through the threat of nuclear retaliation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, specifically, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The action of discouraging an action or event by instilling doubt or fear of the penalty or punishment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxiety

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hindrance, hinderance, interference

Narrower terms: discouragement, nuclear deterrence

7

noun

Meaning 7

a communication that makes you afraid to try something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: determent, intimidation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: discouragement

8

noun

Meaning 8

a negative motivational influence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: disincentive

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rational motive

History

Etymology

From the stem of deterrent + -ence.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: رَدْع (radʕ) — act of deterring
  • Chinese Mandarin: 威懾 /威慑 (wēishè) — act of deterring
  • Dutch: ontrading — act of deterring
  • Finnish: estely — act of deterring
  • French: dissuasion — act of deterring
  • Georgian: შეკავება (šeḳaveba) — act of deterring
  • German: Abschreckung — act of deterring
  • Hungarian: elrettentés — act of deterring
  • Portuguese: deterrência — act of deterring
  • Portuguese: dissuasão — act of deterring
  • Russian: удержа́ние (uderžánije) — act of deterring
  • Spanish: deterrencia — act of deterring
  • Arabic: رَدْع (radʕ) — action taken by states or alliances
  • Finnish: pelote — action taken by states or alliances
  • Georgian: შეკავება (šeḳaveba) — action taken by states or alliances
  • Georgian: შეკავების პოლიტიკა (šeḳavebis ṗoliṭiḳa) — action taken by states or alliances
  • German: Abschreckung — action taken by states or alliances
  • Greek: αποτροπή (apotropí) — action taken by states or alliances
  • Portuguese: deterrência — action taken by states or alliances
  • Swedish: avskräckning — action taken by states or alliances
  • Arabic: رَدْع (radʕ) — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Dutch: afschrikking — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Finnish: pelottelu — art of producing fear of attacking
  • French: dissuasion — art of producing fear of attacking
  • German: Abschreckung — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Portuguese: deterrência — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Portuguese: intimidação — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Russian: устраше́ние (ustrašénije) — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Russian: сде́рживание (sdérživanije) — art of producing fear of attacking
  • Swedish: avskräckning — art of producing fear of attacking