dissuasion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, academic
Quick answer
What does “dissuasion” mean?
the act or process of persuading someone not to do something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the act or process of persuading someone not to do something; discouragement.
A policy or action aimed at preventing unwanted behavior through persuasion, threats, or making certain actions seem unattractive. In military contexts, it can refer to deterrence strategies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Slightly more common in formal British writing on policy and diplomacy.
Connotations
Often carries connotations of rational argument and policy in both dialects.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, used primarily in formal, legal, diplomatic, and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “dissuasion” in a Sentence
dissuasion from [noun/gerund]dissuasion of [person/group]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dissuasion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I tried to dissuade her from the risky investment.
American English
- Her friends dissuaded her from dropping out of college.
adjective
British English
- His dissuasive arguments were surprisingly effective.
American English
- The campaign took a dissuasive rather than punitive approach.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used in HR contexts regarding policy, e.g., 'The company's dissuasion from remote work led to discontent.'
Academic
Common in political science, law, and ethics papers discussing deterrence theory or moral influence.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound overly formal.
Technical
Used in military strategy (nuclear dissuasion), criminology (dissuasion of petty crime), and public health (smoking dissuasion campaigns).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dissuasion”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dissuasion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dissuasion”
- Incorrect: 'His dissuasion made me to do it.' Correct: 'His dissuasion made me not do it.'
- Confusing 'dissuasion' (the act) with 'dissuasive' (the adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related. 'Deterrence' often implies a threat of negative consequences (like military retaliation), while 'dissuasion' can be softer, involving persuasion, argument, or making an option seem unattractive.
It is very formal. In everyday speech, words like 'talking out of it' or 'discouraging' are far more common.
The verb is 'dissuade'. The pattern is 'to dissuade someone from doing something'.
Yes, the adjective is 'dissuasive', as in 'a dissuasive argument'.
the act or process of persuading someone not to do something.
Dissuasion is usually formal, academic in register.
Dissuasion: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈsweɪʒ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈsweɪʒən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS-SUADE-tion. DIS (against) + SUADE (persuade). It's the action of persuading someone AGAINST doing something.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISSUSSION IS A BARRIER / A NEGATIVE FORCE (preventing forward motion).
Practice
Quiz
'Dissuasion' is most opposite in meaning to: