prevented 1 of 2

adjective

as in stopped

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prevented

2 of 2

verb

past tense of prevent
as in averted
to keep from happening by taking action in advance a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better

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Example Sentences

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 prevented
Verb
But a locked gate on the dock prevented him from getting close. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 The complaint argues that more than half of those deaths could have been prevented. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026 Stanford’s third-quarter touchdown prevented the Fighting Irish from posting their second shutout of the season. — ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026 Arab-Israeli cooperation was impressive, but deeper diplomatic ties might have prevented the Omani co-pilot from being behind the controls. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Duke, who died in 2013, often did session work under the alias Dawilli Gonga, perhaps due to contractual obligations that prevented him from being officially credited under his own name. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026 Soenen also wondered whether saying no differently or more forcefully could have prevented the assault. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026 Rees-Mogg defended Britain’s decision to enter the war, arguing that the country’s victory over Nazi Germany preserved its sovereignty and prevented Hitler from continuing to expand across Europe. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026 Rights issues prevented them from simply making a version of Creepshow, but their idea evolved into Tales From the Darkside. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevented
  1. stopped
  2. averted
  3. precluded
  4. suppressed
Adjective
  • The girl with a backpack on could be seen crossing the street while looking at her phone before the stopped truck began moving beside her, in videos obtained by ABC station WPVI and CBS station KYW.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The crash drew a crowd from the stopped traffic, who quickly spread photos and videos of the driver on social media.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of stopped
Verb
  • Jackson averted a suspension ahead of this season when authorities declined to file formal criminal charges after he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Each time the door shut behind the man, Shawn had the feeling that some danger had been temporarily dodged, some crisis averted until the next day.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of averted
Adjective
  • Over the ensuing decades—and fully informed of the substantial executive power exercised by the Commission—the Supreme Court has repeatedly and expressly left Humphrey's Executor in place, and so precluded Presidents from removing Commissioners at will.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of precluded
Adjective
  • General Manager Ken Holland hinted at potentially being done after trading center Phillip Danault for a draft pick in December and acquiring Panarin at a suppressed price in February, though he has been known to under-promise often and, sometimes, over-deliver.
    — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Supervising sound editor Alastair Sirkett told IndieWire that Peter Claffey’s big, former-rugby-player frame really helps that moment sing with suppressed panic.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Definition of suppressed

Browse Nearby Words

preventative
prevented
preventing
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Cite this Entry

“Prevented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevented. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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