Deter means to discourage. Which choice best expresses this sense?

• A. To discourage or keep someone from doing something
• B. To make someone decide not to do something by making them fear the consequences or repercussions
• C. To strengthen someone’s resolve
• D. To delay action

Answer: (A)

Deter is about discouraging someone from taking a particular action. The best choice states this directly: to discourage or keep someone from doing something. That captures the general sense of deterring—preventing action by discouragement, without specifying a particular mechanism.

While fear of consequences can be a way to deter, deterring doesn’t have to rely solely on fear; the core idea is simply to discourage and prevent. The option about strengthening someone’s resolve goes in the opposite direction, making action more likely. The option about delaying action focuses on timing rather than discouraging the action itself.