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Withhold vs Deter - What's the difference?

withhold | deter |

In lang=en terms the difference between withhold and deter

is that withhold is to retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition while deter is to persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.

As verbs the difference between withhold and deter

is that withhold is to keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner while deter is to prevent something from happening.

withhold

English

Verb

  • To keep (a physical object that one has obtained) to oneself rather than giving it back to its owner.
  • To keep (information, etc) to oneself rather than revealing it.
  • To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition.
  • Synonyms

    * retain

    Derived terms

    * overwithhold * underwithhold

    deter

    English

    Verb

    (deterr)
  • To prevent something from happening.
  • To persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. ยง 10.
  • we have in following enquiry, attempted to throw some light upon subjects, from which uncertainty has hitherto deterred the wise

    Anagrams

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