as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
her careful planning averted disaster
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Recent Examples of avert
The final collaboration between the BBC and Disney, this Doctor Who spin-off revisits The Sea Devils (aka Homo Aqua), as Unit (minus the Doctor) struggles to avert a war.
—
Chris McMullen, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The comments were part of a surge in diplomacy aimed at averting conflict; Qatar’s prime minister visited Tehran, while a senior Iranian official traveled to Moscow.
—semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
On Thursday, the two largest nuclear powers will be free to begin a new arms race, a needless competition that both nations have managed to avert for decades.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
It’s estimated that the eradication effort has averted 100 million cases of the disease.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avert
Chris McMullen, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The comments were part of a surge in diplomacy aimed at averting conflict; Qatar’s prime minister visited Tehran, while a senior Iranian official traveled to Moscow.
—semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
On Thursday, the two largest nuclear powers will be free to begin a new arms race, a needless competition that both nations have managed to avert for decades.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
It’s estimated that the eradication effort has averted 100 million cases of the disease.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avert
prevent
Verb
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Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could extend the terms of the treaty or renegotiate its conditions in an effort to prevent a new nuclear arms race.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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Warming a meal completely takes about 15 minutes, with the temperature reaching 55 ºC (131 ºF) to ensure adequate heating that does not damage nutrients and prevents bacterial contamination.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avert. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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