1
as in repulsed
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
And this was on a night when Doncic scored 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) as the Lakers staved off the Brooklyn Nets, finally pulling away for a 116-99 win on Friday night, their 11th victory in 12 games.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
While other local stores struggled, Outpost weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with support from its members and staved off staff cuts, according to Margaret Mittelstadt, director of community relations and Outpost staff member since 2004.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The one-time All-Star also hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the 13th inning against the Chicago Cubs in the ’16 NLDS, ensuring the Giants staved off elimination down 2-0.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
But the Rams staved off the running clock with reserve Jordan Houston draining a 3-point shot and another basket.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
But the penalty kill, led by goalie Matt Wright (12 saves), staved off the first to get back to one-man down, and Ryan scooped a loose puck from the neutral zone for a drive to the net.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The University of Miami women’s basketball team, back in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament after missing out last season, staved off a furious comeback by Stanford to win the opening game 83-76 in overtime on Wednesday.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Khamenei staved off that adjustment for nearly four decades through force of will, brutality, and the conviction that bending would mean breaking.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
And this was on a night when Doncic scored 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) as the Lakers staved off the Brooklyn Nets, finally pulling away for a 116-99 win on Friday night, their 11th victory in 12 games.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
While other local stores struggled, Outpost weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with support from its members and staved off staff cuts, according to Margaret Mittelstadt, director of community relations and Outpost staff member since 2004.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The one-time All-Star also hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the 13th inning against the Chicago Cubs in the ’16 NLDS, ensuring the Giants staved off elimination down 2-0.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
But the Rams staved off the running clock with reserve Jordan Houston draining a 3-point shot and another basket.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
But the penalty kill, led by goalie Matt Wright (12 saves), staved off the first to get back to one-man down, and Ryan scooped a loose puck from the neutral zone for a drive to the net.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The University of Miami women’s basketball team, back in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament after missing out last season, staved off a furious comeback by Stanford to win the opening game 83-76 in overtime on Wednesday.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Khamenei staved off that adjustment for nearly four decades through force of will, brutality, and the conviction that bending would mean breaking.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staved off
Verb
-
Pheidippides, legendary Greek hēmerodromos, or courier, who is popularly believed to have run 40 km (about 25 miles) from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens in 490 bce, to report that the Athenians, in a single afternoon, had repulsed the first Persian invasion of Greece.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Cilantro, a polarizing herb that’s either adored in Mexican, Southeast Asian, and Indian cuisines, or repulsed by those who detect a nauseating soapy taste.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tribal members specifically built their homes in ways that prevented bears from getting in, and learned to always sing or make noise when walking down a trail, so as not to surprise them.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The list prices of their shots are roughly $1,000 per month before insurance and other rebates, or discounts for cash-paying patients — a sum that has long prevented many others from starting and staying on treatment.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The announcers briefly turned back to the game after one of the players called for time.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Maybe, maybe, maybe— Hans turned back to his board, red splotches rising on his cheeks.—
Ben Mezrich,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Mets averted disaster in the first inning.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Despite its status as one of the world's major oil importers, China averted the worst of the energy shock caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz thanks to multi-year efforts to diversify its energy mix and build up reserves.—
Joseph Wilkins,Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, Neuer plunged down, jutted out a wrist of steel, and Mbappe turned away, eyes wide in disbelief.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
According to the board’s findings, the deputy looked into the cell, then turned away and continued toward the exit.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The attack occurred in Benisheikh in Borno State, army spokesman Michael Onoja said in a statement, but it was repelled.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Groypers are repelled by the obsequiousness of pro-Trump influencers who are always willing to contort themselves to support the President’s latest actions.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Desmon Moore also physically resisted officers, documents filed with the court allege.—
Nick Sullivan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Despite the Air Force trying to phase out the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked attempts to reduce the number of these aircraft.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staved off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staved%20off. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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