as in prevented
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
her careful planning averted disaster
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Recent Examples of averted
So much so that the forecasts warning of a major collapse in HIV/AIDS treatment efforts, after foreign aid cuts threw programs into turmoil, appear to have been averted — at least for now.
—
Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Another genocide was averted in 1991 only when the international community intervened following the first Gulf War, and a more authentic Kurdish autonomous region emerged.
—Lily Hindy, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
The Dominican Republic barely averted a crisis.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
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
In Connecticut and across New England, where talk of electricity tends to turn on highest-in-the-nation rates, the potential cold weather energy emergency faced by customers elsewhere was averted, but that success comes with a warning.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
After hours of House of Commons debate, a vote was averted when the government gave in to lawmakers' anger and agreed that the Intelligence and Security Committee would decide what papers should be published, rather than a senior civil servant as Starmer had proposed.
—Jill Lawless The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors described the assassination attempt as a narrowly averted, while Routh suggested his actions were a peaceful protest, reported the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Another genocide was averted in 1991 only when the international community intervened following the first Gulf War, and a more authentic Kurdish autonomous region emerged.
—Lily Hindy, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
The Dominican Republic barely averted a crisis.
—Levi Weaver, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
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
In Connecticut and across New England, where talk of electricity tends to turn on highest-in-the-nation rates, the potential cold weather energy emergency faced by customers elsewhere was averted, but that success comes with a warning.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
After hours of House of Commons debate, a vote was averted when the government gave in to lawmakers' anger and agreed that the Intelligence and Security Committee would decide what papers should be published, rather than a senior civil servant as Starmer had proposed.
—Jill Lawless The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Prosecutors described the assassination attempt as a narrowly averted, while Routh suggested his actions were a peaceful protest, reported the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for averted
prevented
Verb
-
Analysts say the move does not lift broader sanctions but is designed to remove practical barriers that had prevented Venezuelan diplomatic facilities from operating, signaling a willingness by Washington to restore a functional diplomatic presence as talks advance.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Colorado troops fought for the Union Army in several battles that prevented Confederate forces from taking over western gold fields.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Averted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/averted. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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