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View synonyms for deterrence

deterrence

[ dih-tur-uhns, -tuhr-, -ter- ]

noun

  1. the act of deterring, especially deterring a nuclear attack by the capacity or threat of retaliating.


deterrence

  1. A military capability sufficiently strong to discourage any would-be aggressor from starting a war because of the fear of retaliation. ( See balance of terror .)


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Word History and Origins

Origin of deterrence1

First recorded in 1860–65; deterr(ent) + -ence

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Example Sentences

We need to understand what does it really take to have a credible nuclear deterrence capability that’s foundational to every war plan that we would have if, God forbid, we had to take on a China, take on a Russia.

In South Philadelphia, the city instituted its own version of focused deterrence.

A judge typically considers deterrence — in this case, sending a message to other cops that, if they abuse their badge as Chauvin did, they will be severely punished.

With cyber, there is little experience on what constitutes or justifies escalation or the dynamics of deterrence.

From Ozy

We expect real deterrence, and we have the capacity to do so.

In the classic phrase of deterrence, we want all such actors to wake up each morning and think: Not today.

Of course, every nuclear capable air force runs exercises to practice its so-called “strategic deterrence.”

Notably, the future of the nuclear-deterrence triad seems more assured than it has for many years.

Russia, he told listeners, is “strengthening our nuclear deterrence forces.”

The El Paso brand of deterrence is just as much directed at smugglers as immigrants, if not more so.

Nature has provided as far as possible for deterrence from over-interest.

For five decades, we have been successful in applying containment and deterrence in the Cold War.

When deterrence or diplomacy failed as in Kuwait, then the use of force was inevitable.

Let us assume the legitimate end of all punishment to be deterrence.

It follows that we must understand "deterrence" in a wider sense than we have hitherto given to it.

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