OBVIATES Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

obviates

verb

present tense third-person singular of obviate

as in prevents

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of obviates Maybe Anthropic obviates me, too. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026 This imposition of consensus obviates the rather mysterious and ad hoc process of collapse, in favor of something more rigorous. — Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obviates

Verb

Hemphill says doing the main pruning in spring prevents winter damage to tender young shoots and gives them a clean start for the new season.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
If the state offers a public benefit to everyone but someone’s religious belief prevents them from being able to obtain that public benefit (in this case, 15 hours of funding for each student), must the state bend to accommodate that belief?

— Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of prevents

Verb

But multiple studies have shown the flu vaccine reduces the disease’s severity and averts hospitalizations and deaths.

— Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2026
At every save point, the game forces James to stare at his reflection, and after the story’s plot twist, James averts his eyes, unable to face his own guilt.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of averts

Verb

But Smith also had encouragement for Hurts, whom Lynn and the Eagles said should be expected to make a full recovery with treatment from blood thinners that precludes contact activities for the next few months.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Weber balked, arguing that federal law precludes systematic roll purges within 90 days of an election to protect eligible voters.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of precludes

Verb

Keser Clinic avoids mega-sessions, preferring to split large cases across multiple days rather than attempting very high graft counts in a single sitting.

— Burak Onal, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2026
Closing the tax code’s carveouts to special interests would help, but there is no path to sustainability that avoids cutting (or slowing the growth of) benefits, raising eligibility ages to reflect longer lives and putting Medicare on a budget.

— Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of avoids

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obviated

obviates

obviating

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“Obviates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obviates. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of obviates

verb

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