as in preventing
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 forestalling
With the help of TDT-DTECT, AI can help detect strings that appear to have been generated by AI and isolate them earlier in the malware's execution, thereby potentially forestalling adverse consequences before the malware can act.
—
John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 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
Impressive as that is, though, forestalling a hostage situation is not really in her wheelhouse, and Nolan grabs Summerville’s gun, kicking out Elsbeth and Summerville while trapping the store’s staff and one customer.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Those efforts were defensive, aimed at forestalling oversight that might slow growth.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Could see the futility of forestalling the harmful acts of an addict.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 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
Impressive as that is, though, forestalling a hostage situation is not really in her wheelhouse, and Nolan grabs Summerville’s gun, kicking out Elsbeth and Summerville while trapping the store’s staff and one customer.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Those efforts were defensive, aimed at forestalling oversight that might slow growth.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Could see the futility of forestalling the harmful acts of an addict.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forestalling
Verb
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In larger rooms, fans can also help circulate conditioned air more evenly, preventing hot spots that often develop far from vents.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
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Her family is also preventing the release of her body for a post-mortem examination until their demands are met, per the outlet.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The electric-vehicle maker’s accord with three workers was disclosed Wednesday in a court filing, averting a series of trials that were set to start earlier this week in state court in Oakland.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
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Standing by a jetty where undrinkable water gets discharged back into the Pacific from the Carlsbad plant, McDonough says aggressive conservation by farms as well as urban water recycling will go much further toward averting taps from running dry.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forestalling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forestalling. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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