Library / English Dictionary

DETERRENCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("deterrence" is a kind of...):

hinderance; hindrance; interference (the act of hindering or obstructing or impeding)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "deterrence"):

discouragement (the act of discouraging)

nuclear deterrence (the military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons as long as he can be destroyed as a consequence)

Derivation:

deter (try to prevent; show opposition to)

deterrent (tending to deter)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A communication that makes you afraid to try something

Synonyms:

determent; deterrence; intimidation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("deterrence" is a kind of...):

discouragement (the expression of opposition and disapproval)

Derivation:

deter (turn away from by persuasion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A negative motivational influence

Synonyms:

deterrence; disincentive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Hypernyms ("deterrence" is a kind of...):

rational motive (a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument)

Derivation:

deterrent (tending to deter)

Credits