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2
as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stave off
South Korea is looking to stave off new tariffs from the United States by swiftly passing a bill guaranteeing a $350 billion investment in American industry.
—
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 9 Mar. 2026
Five years later, all the remaining wild condors were captured and bred in captivity to try to stave off extinction.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Over the years, Darron Edwards’ south Kansas City congregation has made sure students have clean clothes and school supplies, distributed food to stave off hunger among those in need and provided mental health resources to churchgoers.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
The University of Miami women’s basketball team, back in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament after missing out last season, staved off a furious comeback by Stanford to win the opening game 83-76 in overtime on Wednesday.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 9 Mar. 2026
Five years later, all the remaining wild condors were captured and bred in captivity to try to stave off extinction.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Over the years, Darron Edwards’ south Kansas City congregation has made sure students have clean clothes and school supplies, distributed food to stave off hunger among those in need and provided mental health resources to churchgoers.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
The University of Miami women’s basketball team, back in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament after missing out last season, staved off a furious comeback by Stanford to win the opening game 83-76 in overtime on Wednesday.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
Verb
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The attack took place less than 24 hours after the Nigerian military repelled attacks by militants on the outskirts of Maiduguri, in what some residents say could have been planned as a distraction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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Monday’s attack took place less than 24 hours after the Nigerian military repelled attacks by militants outside Maiduguri.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Social Security payment amounts are set to shrink unless Congress takes action to prevent it.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
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The company said the blowout was caused by the improper assembly and setting of equipment that was designed to prevent the flow of liquids.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The clash comes as tensions escalate between Anthropic and the Defense Department, which has resisted placing restrictions on AI use and recently barred contractors from working with the company, prompting a lawsuit from Anthropic on First Amendment grounds.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Who could resist a comedy featuring tiny, creepily cute monsters?—
Fleurine Tideman,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
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By law, the prime minister’s coalition needs to pass a budget by the end of this month in order to avert mandatory new elections.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The community has been divided over whether or not to turn back on the cameras.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Zelenskyy was asked to return the statue once his country had turned back the ongoing Russian invasion.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After religious conservatives objected to the film’s poster – which depicted an apparently pregnant Virgin Mary nailed to a cross – riot police were called out to head off any potential disturbances at the premiere.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2026
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He’s successfully advocated for creating new incentives for affordable housing construction and automatically renewing a program that freezes property values for some seniors, heading off big bill spikes from rising property values.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Opponents say that provision could potentially scare workers into turning away valid applicants while also discouraging people from working or volunteering at polling locations.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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Precinct-only system turned away hundreds of voters March 3.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by pretty much everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack crawled back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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Charlie, though, is trying to keep them out of a country that thoroughly repulses him.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stave%20off. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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