deter
Pronunciation: dih-TER
verb
Definition of deter
To discourage someone from doing something through doubt or fear
Synonyms for deter
- discourage
- prevent
- dissuade
deter in a Sentence
- The security cameras were installed to deter potential thieves.
Why deter Matters for GRE & SAT
"deter" is a verb that means "To discourage someone from doing something through doubt or fear" closely related to words like "discourage", "prevent", "dissuade". As a word starting with D, it belongs to a cluster of GRE and SAT vocabulary that test-takers often encounter in Verbal Reasoning, Text Completion, and Reading Comprehension sections.
On the GRE, understanding "deter" helps you distinguish between closely related answer choices in Sentence Equivalence questions. On the SAT, recognizing this word in context strengthens your performance on Craft & Structure and Words in Context questions. Seeing how "deter" is used in sentences — like the examples above — builds the contextual understanding that standardized tests reward.
Study tip: Start with the definition and part of speech (verb). Then learn its 3 synonyms to build a word network. Finally, practice with spaced repetition to move "deter" into long-term memory.
How to Remember deter
One effective way to remember "deter" (verb) is to group it with similar words you already know: "discourage" and "prevent" and "dissuade". When you encounter "deter" on a test, these synonym connections help you quickly recall its meaning — "To discourage someone from doing something through doubt or ...".
Use flashcard apps with spaced repetition to review "deter" at increasing intervals until it becomes automatic.
More Vocabulary Words Starting with D
- daunting — scary or frightening; (of a task) seeming impossible
- dawdle — move slowly and without purpose
- dearth — lack of something in a particular area
- dearth — A scarcity or lack of something
- debate — A formal discussion on a particular topic
- debilitate — To make someone weak and infirm
- debilitating — weakening or impairing strength
- debunk — prove a belief or idea false
- debunk — To expose the falseness of a myth or belief
- decade — A period of ten years