as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
you can often forestall skidding on the ice simply by driving more slowly
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Recent Examples of forestall
Allies have been urging the US to forestall any military action.
—
Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
And private credit borrowers are increasingly relying on payment-in-kind options to forestall defaulting on loans, according to Bloomberg, which cited valuation firm Lincoln International and its own data analysis.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
By some interpretations, the fawner resembles Scheherazade, forestalling death through creative feats that appease the men around her.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Phased retirement can also help companies to manage the consequences of the looming workforce contraction by forestalling brain drain and smoothing succession planning — all while preserving the institutional knowledge and relationships that help companies thrive.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forestall
Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
And private credit borrowers are increasingly relying on payment-in-kind options to forestall defaulting on loans, according to Bloomberg, which cited valuation firm Lincoln International and its own data analysis.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
By some interpretations, the fawner resembles Scheherazade, forestalling death through creative feats that appease the men around her.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Phased retirement can also help companies to manage the consequences of the looming workforce contraction by forestalling brain drain and smoothing succession planning — all while preserving the institutional knowledge and relationships that help companies thrive.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forestall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forestall
Verb
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Two months after the anniversary of the devastating Southern California firestorms, several legislators at the state Capitol unveiled a package of bills aimed at preventing wildfires and lessening their harms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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One hour before bed, to promote digestion of foods eaten throughout the day and prevent bedtime indigestion.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Forestall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forestall. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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