dissuade

verb

dis·​suade di-ˈswād 

dissuaded; dissuading

transitive verb

1

a

: to advise (a person) against something

… dissuading us from base thoughts, low ends, ignoble gains …

—A. T. Quiller-Couch

b

archaic : to advise against (an action)

2

: to turn from something by persuasion

unable to dissuade him from going

dissuader noun

Synonyms

• deter
• discourage
• inhibit

Examples of dissuade in a Sentence

Our warnings did not dissuade them.

tried to dissuade her from her intention to drop out of college

Recent Examples on the Web

This would certainly limit the U.S. government’s footprint in the dengue research landscape, but also dissuade other entities from starting or continuing their dengue work. —Stephen J. Thomas, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

The arsenal of democracy will not endure if the United States’ own inefficiencies—or the opposition of vocal minorities in Congress—dissuade vulnerable allies from buying American. —Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024

Francis was convicted of three counts of false imprisonment, one count of assault causing great bodily injury and one count of dissuading a witness. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024

That, however, does little to dissuade nosy friends and family members from firing off intrusive questions. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French dissuader, from Latin dissuadēre, from dis- + suadēre to urge — more at sweet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

dissuade

verb

dis·​suade dis-ˈwād 

dissuaded; dissuading

: to persuade or advise not to do something