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
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Recent Examples of averting
John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Instead of fluids, the doctor ordered dopamine to raise the patient’s blood pressure without adding volume—averting what Hart believed could have led to a life-threatening complication.
—Hilke Schellmann, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2026
The countries are set for another round of nuclear talks on Tuesday aimed at reaching an agreement and averting a war.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Those demands will be at the center of negotiations this week over averting a DHS shutdown.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 9 Feb. 2026
The agreement is intended to give lawmakers more time to address Democratic demands to curb ICE tactics while averting a partial government shutdown.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Ten New Yorkers have already died on the streets amid record-breaking cold, and the encampment sweeps initiated by Mayor Adams could well prove a critical tool in averting any more needless fatalities.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Data suggested that the newer spray, Opvee, would restore breathing faster, averting death and brain injury for thousands of Americans who experience an opioid overdose.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 29 Jan. 2026
Superior Court Judge Robert Genuario, a Norwalk Republican who spent a more than a decade in the Senate and on Appropriations in the 1990s and 2000s, credits Keane’s sense of humor with averting a budget crisis in 1995.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
Comfort says there is no single formula for averting conflict, but Crisis Group has learned important lessons in its three decades.
—John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Instead of fluids, the doctor ordered dopamine to raise the patient’s blood pressure without adding volume—averting what Hart believed could have led to a life-threatening complication.
—Hilke Schellmann, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2026
The countries are set for another round of nuclear talks on Tuesday aimed at reaching an agreement and averting a war.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Those demands will be at the center of negotiations this week over averting a DHS shutdown.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 9 Feb. 2026
The agreement is intended to give lawmakers more time to address Democratic demands to curb ICE tactics while averting a partial government shutdown.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Ten New Yorkers have already died on the streets amid record-breaking cold, and the encampment sweeps initiated by Mayor Adams could well prove a critical tool in averting any more needless fatalities.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Data suggested that the newer spray, Opvee, would restore breathing faster, averting death and brain injury for thousands of Americans who experience an opioid overdose.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 29 Jan. 2026
Superior Court Judge Robert Genuario, a Norwalk Republican who spent a more than a decade in the Senate and on Appropriations in the 1990s and 2000s, credits Keane’s sense of humor with averting a budget crisis in 1995.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for averting
Noun
-
House State Planning and Community Affairs Committee meets to discuss House Bill 689, which would establish a homelessness prevention program.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
This includes efforts to defeat candidates who advocate for comprehensive regulation covering workforce impacts, children’s safety, data protection, and deepfake prevention.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The loss dropped the Celtics to 38-20, preventing them from clearing a benchmark all but three NBA champions since 1980 have cleared.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Autonomous vehicles hold the exciting promise of preventing deaths and injuries caused by behavioral factors, including impaired driving, if deployed responsibly and safely and in collaboration with the right community and city stakeholders.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Averting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/averting. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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