determent
What holds back
Determent is a rare or nonstandard word for the act of deterring—discouraging or preventing someone from doing something through fear of consequences.
The standard noun is deterrence: Nuclear deterrence shaped Cold War policy.
Determent occasionally appears but sounds awkward to most ears.
Convincing someone not to
- disincentiveFactor discouraging action
- demotivationLoss of drive
- disheartenmentLoss of hope or confidence
- dampenerThing that reduces force
disinclination · reluctance · hesitation · warning · caution · admonition · dispiritedness · pessimism
Preventing by prior action
- preclusionAct of blocking beforehand
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- prophylaxisPreventive medical treatment
suppression · blockage · forbiddance · halt · ban · bar · stop · interdiction
Something blocking the way
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- blockadeSealing off a place
restraint · restriction · limitation · encumbrance · handicap · stumbling block · roadblock · bottleneck
Punishment for wrongdoing
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
payback · price · cost · ramification · fallout · backlash · judgment · sentence
dissuasion
Convincing someone not to
- disincentiveFactor discouraging action
- demotivationLoss of drive
- disheartenmentLoss of hope or confidence
dampener · disinclination · reluctance · hesitation · warning · caution · admonition · dispiritedness · pessimism · dejection
forestalling
Preventing by prior action
- preclusionAct of blocking beforehand
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
prophylaxis · suppression · blockage · forbiddance · halt · ban · bar · stop · interdiction · preemption
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
blockade · restraint · restriction · limitation · encumbrance · handicap · stumbling block · roadblock · bottleneck · setback
penalty
Punishment for wrongdoing
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- repercussionIndirect result of action
retribution · payback · price · cost · ramification · fallout · backlash · judgment · sentence · aftermath
determentencouragement
Support spurring continued effort
incentive · inducement · incitement · motivation · impetus
determined, deter, deterrent, indeterminate, deterring, deterrence, deterred, deters, undeterred