1
2
as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stave off
Moreover, even when placed in packing bags, shoes (and even swimwear) can lend less-than-ideal stench to your luggage, and bar soap can help stave off the unpleasantness, so that every outfit feels freshly washed.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
Completed in June, this system aims to stave off devastation like that of 2011—when a relentless six-minute-long temblor was followed by a 130-foot tsunami that reached speeds of 435 miles per hour and pounded cities into rubble.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 July 2025
Gazan parents are feeding their children milky water to stave off starvation as Israel continues to withhold sufficient aid.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
After that, even aggressive tax hikes or spending cuts may not be enough to stave off default — implicit or otherwise.
—Leslie Picker, CNBC, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
Completed in June, this system aims to stave off devastation like that of 2011—when a relentless six-minute-long temblor was followed by a 130-foot tsunami that reached speeds of 435 miles per hour and pounded cities into rubble.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 July 2025
Gazan parents are feeding their children milky water to stave off starvation as Israel continues to withhold sufficient aid.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 24 June 2025
After that, even aggressive tax hikes or spending cuts may not be enough to stave off default — implicit or otherwise.
—Leslie Picker, CNBC, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
Verb
-
Fill the hot water, add a small amount of dish soap, and a disinfecting spray to repel odors and maintain bacteria at bay.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
-
The massive aerial assault involved 728 drones and 13 missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force said, eclipsing the previous record number of 539 drones, set on July 4, by hundreds – but it was largely repelled, with the damage limited and no immediate reports of deaths.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
9 July 2025
Verb
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These plastic drain covers, marketed as replacements for in-ground pool drains, do not comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act—a federal law enacted to prevent entrapment and drowning in pools and spas.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
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How to prevent exposure to the plague To prevent exposure to plague, Coconino County officials have the following tips: Avoid contact with wild animals.—
Stephanie Innes,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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All good people, regardless of fundamental beliefs, need to vigorously, with courage, resist the sickness that is Trump and MAGA.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
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Trump had for months resisted pressure from Kyiv and NATO allies to turn the screw on Putin, engaging directly with Russia and distancing from Ukraine in the hopes that smoothing U.S. relations with Moscow would bring about a rapid end to the war.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Carney posted a 114-word response on X late Thursday that appeared to avert further escalation of trade tensions while striking a firm posture in defense of Canada's economic interests.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
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But with a tentative deal put in place by January, which averted a second strike, the union of 45,000 dockworkers got some reprieve on automation—at least enough to maintain a certain number of jobs.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Magny turned back Rodriguez, submitting him in the third round.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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In tech, people are turning back to flip phones, Tamagotchi's and disposable film cameras.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
Snelling has said investigators were pulling video surveillance footage from the area, asking the public for tips on who is to blame, and working to head off any retaliation.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
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Sure, Amelia gets to do some cool stuff like scamper on all fours toward a target, scramble down a wall like a spider, rip the head off one poor unfortunate and neutralize entire tactical units with her dazzling fight skills.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
Verb
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The call was overturned, and the Royals were turned away amid heavy boos from the crowd.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 July 2025
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The clinic saw people with treatable cancers whose cases were turned away from local hospital after local hospital.—
Rachel Pearson,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
Verb
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In Liberia, especially, the Peace Corps volunteers were repulsed by the ways that Americo-Liberians — the descendants of the Black Americans who founded the country — oppressed indigenous ethnic groups.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
New York Daily News,
16 July 2025
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After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack went crawling back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stave%20off. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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