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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stopped
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevented
Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Democrats have replied that this is prevented by federal law, though some states permit it, including through Medicaid.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
Uthe noted that demanding schedules with heavy travel schedules may have prevented the couple from nurturing their partnership.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Senators rejected two deals, one from Democrats, the other from Republicans, that would have prevented the shutdown.
—Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Oct. 2025
But the notion that the two-state solution can be prevented by this or that settlement or some Israeli declaration has always been a bluff—and those recognizing Palestine today are calling it.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025
The opposition claimed Monday that at least 200,000 people had been prevented from voting.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
That said, some fans couldn't help but point out the irony on social media of one critical decision Sanders made back in April that's seemingly prevented him from starting yet in the NFL.
—Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Those charges stem from prior incidents of domestic violence at the home, in which Wang allegedly either threatened his wife or prevented her from calling 911.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
But that doesn't mean they can't be prevented.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Democrats have replied that this is prevented by federal law, though some states permit it, including through Medicaid.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
Uthe noted that demanding schedules with heavy travel schedules may have prevented the couple from nurturing their partnership.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Senators rejected two deals, one from Democrats, the other from Republicans, that would have prevented the shutdown.
—Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 1 Oct. 2025
But the notion that the two-state solution can be prevented by this or that settlement or some Israeli declaration has always been a bluff—and those recognizing Palestine today are calling it.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025
The opposition claimed Monday that at least 200,000 people had been prevented from voting.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
That said, some fans couldn't help but point out the irony on social media of one critical decision Sanders made back in April that's seemingly prevented him from starting yet in the NFL.
—Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Those charges stem from prior incidents of domestic violence at the home, in which Wang allegedly either threatened his wife or prevented her from calling 911.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevented
Verb
-
In April 2011, leaders of both parties came to an agreement following weeks of difficult negotiations and ultimately averted a government shutdown, as recapped by President Barack Obama.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Sealing the deal averted a potential Azeri invasion to secure unfettered access after Azerbaijan’s forces inflicted heavy defeats on Armenia’s army in 2020 and 2023 and pushed 120,000 Armenians out of Nagorno-Karabakh.—
Michele Crestani,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Middle Tennessee's erosion-prone limestone and other hard bedrock have historically precluded Nashville leadership from exploring underground transportation.—
Hadley Hitson,
Nashville Tennessean,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Too long submerged in suppressed grief, Zilpha now came up from its depth like any swimmer stroking toward light and sweet air.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prevented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevented. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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