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
Jue Liang, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
In some ways, the moment was a replay of 1977, but this time Woodruff looked directly at Walker, instead of averting his eyes.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
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
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
Verb
Practices for averting death are based on the theory that human lives exist due to the coming together of natural, supernatural, human and divine elements.
—Jue Liang, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
In some ways, the moment was a replay of 1977, but this time Woodruff looked directly at Walker, instead of averting his eyes.
—Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for averting
Noun
-
The revenues fund affordable housing, tenant protections and homelessness prevention programs.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
But neither state offers addiction or bankruptcy prevention protections and other guardrails like restricting advertising and requiring a spouse to consent before a joint bank account is used for gambling.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The study recommends that coaches and athletes monitor the mileage of individual runs, which may actually be more important for preventing injury.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Before Castro began preventing citizens from leaving the country, Cuba’s then-thriving professional leagues had already turned amateur, forcing top players such as Perez and Cárdenas to decide between pursuing their MLB careers or living a rewardless life as stars in Cuba.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Averting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/averting. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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