as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
her careful planning averted disaster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of avert
San Diego Unified School District recently averted a one-day strike after reaching a tentative agreement with its teachers.
—
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Today’s parents grew up in a world where vaccines averted preventable diseases, or at least lessened the toll of those illnesses if infection occurred.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
The Ducks’ fourth line toiled low in the zone, and after the Jets hustled to avert the threat there, Trouba’s ostensibly harmless fling from the far corner found the net, appearing to hit Winnipeg defenseman Ville Heinola’s stick first.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
President James Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise, meant to avert a conflict over slavery by equalizing the number of states where the brutal practice was and was not allowed, on March 6, 1820.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avert
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Today’s parents grew up in a world where vaccines averted preventable diseases, or at least lessened the toll of those illnesses if infection occurred.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
The Ducks’ fourth line toiled low in the zone, and after the Jets hustled to avert the threat there, Trouba’s ostensibly harmless fling from the far corner found the net, appearing to hit Winnipeg defenseman Ville Heinola’s stick first.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
President James Monroe signed the Missouri Compromise, meant to avert a conflict over slavery by equalizing the number of states where the brutal practice was and was not allowed, on March 6, 1820.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avert
prevent
Verb
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Social Security payment amounts are set to shrink unless Congress takes action to prevent it.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
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The company said the blowout was caused by the improper assembly and setting of equipment that was designed to prevent the flow of liquids.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avert. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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