as in averting
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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Recent Examples of preventing
Officials ruled former Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau held Wallstedt's glove hand down with his stick, preventing him from making the save.
—
CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The leading hypothesis had been that a frozen vent had been preventing waste dumps into space.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
Engaging with youth early is a critical step in preventing further community instability.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the attack and praised the Turkish authorities for preventing further violence.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Kraken forward Freddy Gaudreau had his stick on Wallstedt’s glove hand, preventing the goalie from stopping a Jaden Schwartz.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
From Prevention to Repair If your 30s were about preventing damage, your 40s are about repairing and replenishing.
—Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Proponents describe the measure as preventing states from dictating farming practices beyond their borders.
—John Cleveland, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
The president has repeatedly said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was the war's top objective.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The leading hypothesis had been that a frozen vent had been preventing waste dumps into space.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
Engaging with youth early is a critical step in preventing further community instability.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned the attack and praised the Turkish authorities for preventing further violence.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Kraken forward Freddy Gaudreau had his stick on Wallstedt’s glove hand, preventing the goalie from stopping a Jaden Schwartz.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
From Prevention to Repair If your 30s were about preventing damage, your 40s are about repairing and replenishing.
—Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Proponents describe the measure as preventing states from dictating farming practices beyond their borders.
—John Cleveland, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
The president has repeatedly said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was the war's top objective.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventing
Verb
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The scene plays out as if the actors are politely averting their eyes while performing, without conjuring the deep moral revulsion Wolfe and LaChiusa might’ve intended.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But even after hearing from Kelly and several distressed homeowners at the March 9 City Council meeting, Council members couldn’t reach consensus on key elements of the proposal, precluding a necessary approval for the ordinance to advance.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, which has played a large role in precluding a return.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Whatever his flaws, the president has been politically astute throughout his tenure, carefully avoiding the trap of letting the perfect be the enemy of good.—
Kelly Sloan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Be wary of phishing by avoiding links in unsolicited emails or texts.—
Larry Magid,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preventing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventing. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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