Things or people that discourage or prevent someone from doing something, usually by creating fear of consequences.
Plural of 'deterrent,' from Latin 'deterrere' (to frighten away). The word became common in English military and legal contexts in the 20th century.
Speed bumps, security cameras, and guard dogs are all deterrents—they don't stop bad behavior directly, but they make the risk feel too high to try!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.