ward off
verb
warded off; warding off; wards off
: to avoid being hit by (something)
ward off a blow
—often used figurativelyI tried different remedies to ward off a cold.
Examples of ward off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Snow Petrels spit out the oil in front of their nests, primarily to ward off predators with its smell and stickiness.
—
Hannah Richter, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Many gardeners practice companion gardening in their vegetable gardens to help increase fruit production, ward off pests, and keep the soil healthy.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 May 2026
But in 2016, the federal government began mandating electronic logging, in an attempt to reduce overwork and ward off accidents.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ward off
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Hannah Richter, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
Sharp objects like scissors and needles or amulets should be carried by pregnant women or placed near sleeping children to ward off her attacks.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Many gardeners practice companion gardening in their vegetable gardens to help increase fruit production, ward off pests, and keep the soil healthy.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 May 2026
But in 2016, the federal government began mandating electronic logging, in an attempt to reduce overwork and ward off accidents.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ward off
Cite this Entry
“Ward off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ward%20off. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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