as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
brushing regularly should obviate the need for frequent trips to the dentist
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Recent Examples of obviate
That is, they are dotted with nodules inhabited by nitrogen-fixing bacteria that obviate the need for fertilizer.
—
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
That is more than enough space to build a new arena, obviating the need to demolish City Hall for that purpose.
—Mark Lamster
architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
Starmer has staked his governing project on economic growth that would boost government receipts and obviate the need for higher taxes.
—Oliver Eagleton, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
The new ballroom should obviate the need for use of tents on the South Lawn of the White House for big events.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obviate
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
That is more than enough space to build a new arena, obviating the need to demolish City Hall for that purpose.
—Mark Lamster
architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
Starmer has staked his governing project on economic growth that would boost government receipts and obviate the need for higher taxes.
—Oliver Eagleton, Time, 26 Nov. 2025
The new ballroom should obviate the need for use of tents on the South Lawn of the White House for big events.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obviate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obviate
Verb
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Even worse, that money was supposed to go toward preventing and reversing drug overdoses amid an ongoing opioid epidemic.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
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The same dangerous whiteout conditions that caused the avalanche Tuesday have prevented recovery crews from returning to the remote Sierra Nevada backcountry to bring home the bodies, officials said in an update Wednesday.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … POLITICS ON THE BRINK — Senate races to avert third shutdown as DHS deal takes shape.—
,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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In Connecticut and across New England, where talk of electricity tends to turn on highest-in-the-nation rates, the potential cold weather energy emergency faced by customers elsewhere was averted, but that success comes with a warning.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Many people, meanwhile, don’t have room for a writer’s room, or live lives that preclude solitude, or just don’t like to sit still.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
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His age, though, precludes him from doing anything more extensive than a one-off show.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obviate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obviate. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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