as in prevented
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 forestalled
The Giants forestalled the question of whether to keep Melvin at the helm with their impressive run in late August and early September, and that Los Angeles Dodgers series answered it.
—
Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forestalled
Verb
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But that doesn't mean they can't be prevented.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Democrats have replied that this is prevented by federal law, though some states permit it, including through Medicaid.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In April 2011, leaders of both parties came to an agreement following weeks of difficult negotiations and ultimately averted a government shutdown, as recapped by President Barack Obama.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Sealing the deal averted a potential Azeri invasion to secure unfettered access after Azerbaijan’s forces inflicted heavy defeats on Armenia’s army in 2020 and 2023 and pushed 120,000 Armenians out of Nagorno-Karabakh.—
Michele Crestani,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forestalled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forestalled. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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