as in prevention
the act or practice of keeping something from happening
the averting of forest fires can be helped by the clearing of dry underbrush
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in preventing
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
her careful planning averted disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of averting
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
Vaccines meant to protect against respiratory infections, whether developed through mRNA or older technologies, are generally better at averting severe disease than preventing infection.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
His comments come as the S & P 500 eked out a gain heading into the market’s close on Friday, averting a fifth straight week of losses.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
For a majority of the opening segment, Stewart went in on Schumer, who switched up his decision on the Republicans’ proposed funding bill, thus paving the way toward its passage and averting a government shutdown.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, voted in support of the bill, arguing that averting a government shutdown was the more responsible action.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
The political implications of voting with Republicans are uncertain, but the vote ensured that the government would remain funded through September, averting furloughs for federal workers and disruptions to key services.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2025
Vaccines meant to protect against respiratory infections, whether developed through mRNA or older technologies, are generally better at averting severe disease than preventing infection.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
His comments come as the S & P 500 eked out a gain heading into the market’s close on Friday, averting a fifth straight week of losses.
—Brian Evans, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
For a majority of the opening segment, Stewart went in on Schumer, who switched up his decision on the Republicans’ proposed funding bill, thus paving the way toward its passage and averting a government shutdown.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, voted in support of the bill, arguing that averting a government shutdown was the more responsible action.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
The political implications of voting with Republicans are uncertain, but the vote ensured that the government would remain funded through September, averting furloughs for federal workers and disruptions to key services.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for averting
Noun
-
Former Vice President Kamala Harris will no longer receive protection from the Los Angeles Police Department after backlash from officers who were reportedly pulled from crime prevention efforts for the security detail.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Suicide prevention is a priority for higher education because suicide is a leading cause of death among young and emerging adults.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Keeping up with your shower's health is key to preventing mold from growing in the first place.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The company has also tried to limit unsolicited messages for users under 18, preventing teen profiles from being public or widely recommended.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Averting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/averting. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share