ward off

phrasal verb

warded off; warding off; wards off
: to avoid being hit by (something)
ward off a blow
often used figuratively
I tried different remedies to ward off a cold.

Examples of ward off in a Sentence

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Reynolds is a tetchy tyrant, who, enabled by his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville), has embraced a need to have things just so as a means of warding off vulnerability. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025 Simply slide the clear protector down over the top of the suitcase and secure it at the base of the bag to ward off stains, scratches, and other signs of wear and tear. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2025 Some companies are taking actions on their own to strengthen their rules in a possible bid to ward off federal regulation. Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Groups larger than six are required to order from a set chef’s choice menu—to better ward off indecision and infighting. Maggie Hennessy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ward off

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Cite this Entry

“Ward off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ward%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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