1
as in repulsed
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prevented
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 staved off
The 1994 team staved off any embarrassment.
—
Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox staved off a sweep with a 7-4 come-from-behind win, the 600th victory of Alex Cora’s managerial career.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Nunn and Miller-Meeks represent swing districts but have staved off Democratic challengers in tight races.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025
On Sunday, the team staved off elimination with a big win over Illinois, taking a 9-1 victory.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
At the last minute, Hults staved off eviction through assistance from Denver’s Temporary Rental & Utility Assistance program.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
The win staved off a four-game sweep by the American League Central Division leaders.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Shohei Ohtani waving his team back to the dugout after a seemingly retaliatory pitch from Robert Suarez likely staved off another brouhaha.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The Red Sox staved off a sweep with a 7-4 come-from-behind win, the 600th victory of Alex Cora’s managerial career.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Nunn and Miller-Meeks represent swing districts but have staved off Democratic challengers in tight races.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025
On Sunday, the team staved off elimination with a big win over Illinois, taking a 9-1 victory.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
At the last minute, Hults staved off eviction through assistance from Denver’s Temporary Rental & Utility Assistance program.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
The win staved off a four-game sweep by the American League Central Division leaders.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 17 Aug. 2025
Shohei Ohtani waving his team back to the dugout after a seemingly retaliatory pitch from Robert Suarez likely staved off another brouhaha.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staved off
Verb
-
Jackson was repulsed at the idea of the film being shown to the public, as was Zapruder, who quickly settled again with Time-Life.—
Time,
Time,
20 Sep. 2025
-
At almost the same time, the Grenadian Army repulsed special operations forces sent to capture Richmond Hill Prison and Fort Rupert.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As a deadlock in Congress has prevented passage of the federal budget, Democrats have garnered increasing attention for drawing a line on this particular issue.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
-
That Maestro screening featured the vociferous participation of Leonard Bernstein’s surviving family members, as well as Cooper himself watching silently from the audience (the strike prevented him from doing more), a perfect companion to Cooper’s alternately reverent and over-the-top biopic.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But then, the lights turned back on.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Later in the season, as more northern waters cool off and the main hurricane development region stays toasty, the instability dial could be turned back up.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
America would have averted a constitutional crisis and a financial disaster.—
Tom Campbell,
Oc Register,
24 Sep. 2025
-
What's much harder to measure is the number of shootings that have been averted.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There was Skubal, the best pitcher in the American League, inexplicably trying to flip the ball between his legs, back turned away from first.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Fry, 29, fell to the ground with a bloodied face while Skubal covered his eyes, tossed his cap and turned away from the scene.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, the more aggressive Beijing has become toward Taiwan, the more Beijing has repelled rather than attracted the people of Taiwan.—
PHILIP H. GORDON,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The material also strongly repelled chloride ions, cutting corrosion risks.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Big Ten resisted, favoring instead its own proposal that featured a stacked deck of automatic bids.—
Blake Toppmeyer,
USA TODAY,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The suspect resisted arrest and officers used a Taser twice before he was taken into custody, police said.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staved off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staved%20off. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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