DETERS

What does DETERS mean in a crossword?

Discourages or prevents someone from doing something, usually by making the action seem risky, difficult, or unpleasant.

DETERS appears for clues such as “discourages,” “prevents,” “puts off,” or the older “forfends.” The final S must match third-person singular clue grammar.

Why does DETERS appear in crosswords?

It is a familiar six-letter verb with several fair synonym clues, while older clue vocabulary can make the pairing less immediate to solvers.

Common clue patterns

• Discourages from acting
• Prevents through fear of consequences
• Forfends, in modern wording

These are editorially written pattern summaries, not a reproduced puzzle archive.

Other meanings to watch

DETERS does not necessarily mean physically blocks; it often describes changing someone’s willingness to act.

Reviewed explanation