avskräcka

Avskräcka is a Swedish verb meaning to deter or discourage someone from doing something. It is transitive and typically used with a person or group as the object, often in constructions like avskräcka någon från att göra något. In English, it is rendered as deter or dissuade. The term is common in everyday language as well as in policy, law, and parenting contexts.

Etymology and meaning: Avskräcka is formed from the prefix av- meaning away or off and the verb skräcka (to scare). Taken together, it conveys “to scare away” in the sense of preventing an action by creating a fear of consequences or negative outcomes.

Conjugation and forms: Infinitive avskräcka; present avskräcker; past avskräckte; supine avskräckt. The present participle is avskräckande. The noun form avskräckning denotes deterrence, while avskräckande describes something that deters or serves as a deterrent.

Usage notes: The expression avskräcka från att + infinitive is common, for example, avskräcka barn från farliga aktiviteter. The word often appears in discussions of safety, crime prevention, or international deterrence (avskräckning). Antonyms include uppmuntra, locka, och få någon att välja en annan väg.

See also: Deterrence (avskräckning) and related terms such as avskräckande effekt (deterrent effect). The concept is used in criminology, security studies, and political science to describe actions intended to discourage certain behaviors by signaling consequences.