stave off
verb
staved off; staving off; staves off
1
: to fend off
staving off creditors
2
: to ward off (something adverse) : forestall
trying to stave off disaster
Examples of stave off in a Sentence
managed to stave off the invaders
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Recent Examples on the Web
Therefore, building mental endurance is essential to staving off decision fatigue and reducing the judgment errors that tend to surface when a leader's cognitive reserves run low.
—
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
The law, Newsom has said, prevents the state from saving more money in good years to stave off cuts to programs in bad years.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Perhaps the most publicized of these policy failures is that the federal government hasn’t taken steps to stave off Social Security benefits cuts.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 22 June 2026
Adding urgency to its efforts is the need to stave off any prospect of Reform UK winning a general election.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave off
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Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 24 June 2026
The law, Newsom has said, prevents the state from saving more money in good years to stave off cuts to programs in bad years.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Perhaps the most publicized of these policy failures is that the federal government hasn’t taken steps to stave off Social Security benefits cuts.
—Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 22 June 2026
Adding urgency to its efforts is the need to stave off any prospect of Reform UK winning a general election.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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