as in prevents
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
her careful planning averted disaster
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Recent Examples of averts
For now and unless Williams changes his mind again, the move averts a potential historic litigation where Washington planned to sue Williams over his plan to switch schools.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The Corps project averts potential catastrophic flooding that could lay siege to about 475,000 residents, California and the nation, according to the government’s court documents.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Today’s agreement, struck on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, averts another escalation of tensions between the world’s two great powers.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Critics also said that the 11th hour change will further complicate efforts to reach a deal that averts a shutdown.
—Erin Doherty, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
The settlement averts what promised to be a high-profile trial.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
Today's ruling averts that torturous outcome.
—Tobias Meyjes, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The Corps project averts potential catastrophic flooding that could lay siege to about 475,000 residents, California and the nation, according to the government’s court documents.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Today’s agreement, struck on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, averts another escalation of tensions between the world’s two great powers.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Critics also said that the 11th hour change will further complicate efforts to reach a deal that averts a shutdown.
—Erin Doherty, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
The settlement averts what promised to be a high-profile trial.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2025
Today's ruling averts that torturous outcome.
—Tobias Meyjes, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for averts
prevents
Verb
-
Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images Four years of war between Russia and Ukraine are beginning to take their toll on the countries' demographics as the conflict puts women off — or prevents them — from starting or expanding their families.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
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Using your bathroom fan properly prevents mold, peeling paint, and structural damage caused by lingering moisture.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Averts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/averts. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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