as in to avert
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevent
Then El Nino attacked the yields and quality of the fibers, and then there was a drought, which Mariela Calderon, Bergman/Rivera project manager, said prevented farmers from planting.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
Humans exposed to rabies receive a series of shots to prevent infection.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Property owners and tenants play a role in preventing fires.
—Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
The Chapter 11 filing and Saks’ bankruptcy stay shouldn’t prevent the landlord from taking back the two locations because the leases were terminated shortly before the retailer sought court protection, Simon said.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
Humans exposed to rabies receive a series of shots to prevent infection.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Property owners and tenants play a role in preventing fires.
—Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
The Chapter 11 filing and Saks’ bankruptcy stay shouldn’t prevent the landlord from taking back the two locations because the leases were terminated shortly before the retailer sought court protection, Simon said.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent
Verb
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The administration estimates its rule repeal will avert $670 million in compliance costs over a decade.—
Connor Giffin,
Louisville Courier Journal,
20 Feb. 2026
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Instead of fluids, the doctor ordered dopamine to raise the patient’s blood pressure without adding volume—averting what Hart believed could have led to a life-threatening complication.—
Hilke Schellmann,
Scientific American,
17 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
Verb
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Division 2 After two one-goal victories to reach the finals, Coronado freshman Audrey Roberts and her teammates used a late surge to avoid another close call.—
Glae Thien,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
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That’s because more of these people are often snowshoe hikers who normally avoid steep terrain.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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