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
Emerick and the defense were clutch in the meantime, staving off most of the waves Arlington brought on the attack.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
In some cases, women may be able to improve their heart health through behavioral and medication changes to stave off more serious medical intervention.
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026
With a 24-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Hawks built enough of a cushion that staved off the Knicks, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Now that the United States has involved itself this way, its leaders are implicated in securing a stable postwar Venezuela and in staving off chaos that could destabilize the region.
—Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stave off
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Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
In some cases, women may be able to improve their heart health through behavioral and medication changes to stave off more serious medical intervention.
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 3 Jan. 2026
With a 24-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Hawks built enough of a cushion that staved off the Knicks, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Now that the United States has involved itself this way, its leaders are implicated in securing a stable postwar Venezuela and in staving off chaos that could destabilize the region.
—Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 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 8 Jan. 2026.
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