deterrent / off-putting
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off-putting
Having an effect that keeps someone from doing something because it seems unpleasant, frightening, or repulsive.
Die hohen Studiengebühren wirken auf viele junge Leute abschreckend.
The high tuition fees are off-putting to many young people.
deterrent
In a legal or educational context, intended to keep others from committing similar acts through the severity of a punishment or measure.
Die lange Haftstrafe soll eine abschreckende Wirkung auf potenzielle Täter haben.
The long prison sentence is intended to have a deterrent effect on potential offenders.
'Abschreckend' (deterrent/off-putting) is the present participle of the separable verb 'abschrecken' (to deter, to scare off). This verb means to keep someone away from something through fear or discomfort (ab + schrecken). The adjective therefore describes something that has this effect.
Der Verwesungsgeruch war absolut abschreckend.
The smell of decay was absolutely off-putting.
When you want to say whom something has a deterrent or off-putting effect on, you use the preposition 'auf' followed by the accusative. A very typical construction is 'etwas wirkt abschreckend auf jemanden' (something has a deterrent/off-putting effect on someone).
Die komplizierten Formulare wirken auf viele Antragsteller abschreckend.
The complicated forms are off-putting to many applicants.
A very common and useful expression is 'ein abschreckendes Beispiel' (a cautionary example). It describes a person or situation whose negative outcome is meant to keep others from making the same mistake.
Sein Scheitern diente allen als abschreckendes Beispiel.
His failure served as a cautionary example for everyone.
The legal or educational meaning can often be recognized from context. Words such as 'Strafe' (punishment), 'Gesetz' (law), 'Maßnahme' (measure), or 'Täter' (offender) indicate that the focus is on preventing undesirable behavior.
Die Regierung diskutiert über härtere Strafen mit abschreckender Wirkung.
The government is discussing harsher punishments with a deterrent effect.
frightening
Both words can describe an unpleasant or frightening effect. „Erschreckend“ says that something causes fear or shock; „abschreckend“ additionally emphasizes that this effect keeps someone from behaving in a certain way. Choose „abschreckend“ when preventing the behavior is important; otherwise, „erschreckend“ is often appropriate.
Die abschreckenden Bilder vom Brand hielten viele Menschen davon ab, Feuerwerkskörper zu kaufen.
The disturbing images of the fire kept many people from buying fireworks.
Die erschreckenden Bilder vom Brand machten den Zuschauern große Angst.
The frightening images of the fire made the viewers very afraid.
