The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word DETERRENCE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
E
T
E
R
R
E
N
C
E
More clues leading to the result DETERRENCE
- Revised rent decree that puts people off?
- Discouragement as lower classes hear Latin dramatist
- It helps to restrain worked up editor – Rattigan’s about right
- Discouragement of French dramatist adopting recipe
- Prevention of land in France acquiring new church
- Crowd centred around English king causing hindrance
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "It helps to restrain" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case it helps to restrain = deterrence.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DETERRENCE mean?
DETERRENCE noun- The act of deterring, or the state of being deterred.
- Action taken by states or alliances of nations against equally powerful alliances to prevent hostile action.
- The art of producing in one's enemy the fear of attacking.