deterrents
Things preventing action
Deterrents are things that discourage or prevent action through fear of consequences.
Nuclear weapons serve as deterrents against attack; harsh penalties act as deterrents to crime.
The word implies that the threat itself, not its execution, does the work: The security cameras were deterrents, whether or not anyone monitored them.
Defense against a threat
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- preventiveMeant to stop trouble
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
hindrance · impediment · protection · defense · security · precaution · blockade · restriction
Loss of confidence
- dissuasionConvincing someone not to
- demotivationLoss of drive
- costRequired payment amount
- expenseMoney paid out
burden · inconvenience · hassle · drawback · downside · risk · tradeoff · complication
Alert about danger
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- menaceSource of potential harm
fear · alarm · caution · forewarning · admonition · signal · posturing · retaliation
Of atomic energy
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
- arsenalStockpile of munitions
- warheadMunition's explosive section
- armamentCollective military weapons
stockpile · bomber · submarine · ICBM · strategic · firepower
Punishment for wrongdoing
- consequenceResult of an action
- fineAcceptable in quality
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
prosecution · imprisonment · retribution · repercussion · discipline · citation · forfeiture · revocation
countermeasure
Defense against a threat
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- preventiveMeant to stop trouble
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
obstacle · hindrance · impediment · protection · defense · security · precaution · blockade · restriction · prohibition
discouragement
Loss of confidence
- dissuasionConvincing someone not to
- demotivationLoss of drive
- costRequired payment amount
expense · burden · inconvenience · hassle · drawback · downside · risk · tradeoff · complication · friction
warning
Alert about danger
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
menace · fear · alarm · caution · forewarning · admonition · signal · posturing · retaliation · reprisal
nuclear
Of atomic energy
armament · stockpile · bomber · submarine · ICBM · strategic · firepower
penalty
Punishment for wrongdoing
- consequenceResult of an action
- fineAcceptable in quality
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
sanction · prosecution · imprisonment · retribution · repercussion · discipline · citation · forfeiture · revocation · suspension
- safeguardssafeguards, safety valve, protections, kill switch, defenses
- defensive chemicalsvenom, toxin, toxins, poison, repellents
- pest controlinsecticide, rat trap, pesticide, mousetrap, exterminator
- constraintsconstraint, limits, restrictions, deadline, restraints
- protective gearhelmet, helmets, hard hat, hard hats, gloves
- motivatorsmotivator, rewards, ambition, incentive, incentives
deterrentsincentives
Rewards prompting action
inducements · encouragements · motivators · catalysts · goads
deterrentslures
Attracts or fishing decoys
attractions · temptations · allurements · attractants · draws
- nuclear deterrentArms discouraging aggression
- nuclear deterrencePreventing war through retaliation threat
- deterrent effectDiscouragement through threatened consequences