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
Some factors — that crime has hit historic lows as Tisch has headed the department and Mamdani’s relative lack of action in the police department — have staved off criticism from moderates.
—
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
That spending staved off a recession at the cost of overheating the economy, contributing to the inflation that still plagues Americans.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 27 May 2026
But the team could not shut the door on the Stags (35-14), who staved off elimination and delayed an early claim to a coveted berth in the College World Series, which begins May 28 at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2026
In the moments that gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the actions of three men staved off an even more extensive tragedy.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Cat Petteys hit two home runs and Jessica Walter pitched a one-hitter as the UConn softball team staved off elimination with a 5-1 victory over McNeese in the NCAA Tournament Regional at College Station, Texas.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
The goal staved off the momentum from American Heritage (20-2), which scored three consecutive goals in the fourth period to tie the game.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
That threat, which critics warned could be a war crime if carried out, appears to have been staved off for now.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
That spending staved off a recession at the cost of overheating the economy, contributing to the inflation that still plagues Americans.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 27 May 2026
But the team could not shut the door on the Stags (35-14), who staved off elimination and delayed an early claim to a coveted berth in the College World Series, which begins May 28 at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2026
In the moments that gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the actions of three men staved off an even more extensive tragedy.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Cat Petteys hit two home runs and Jessica Walter pitched a one-hitter as the UConn softball team staved off elimination with a 5-1 victory over McNeese in the NCAA Tournament Regional at College Station, Texas.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
The goal staved off the momentum from American Heritage (20-2), which scored three consecutive goals in the fourth period to tie the game.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
That threat, which critics warned could be a war crime if carried out, appears to have been staved off for now.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staved off
Verb
-
Plenty of people bought it, plenty were repulsed by it.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
Firstman’s debut directorial effort, Club Kid, shrewdly acknowledges those garish personality tics, which have both endeared and repulsed audiences.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Teva said his family later reached a settlement deal with Von D, which allegedly included a nondisclosure agreement that prevented his mother from speaking out on the incident.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
And while Popeye could never directly engage with his Sea Hag because his code of honor prevented him from striking a woman, no matter how villainous, Tom seems to have no such code.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
All turned back from fear or foul weather.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026
-
The vacant home could be turned back into staff quarters.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Luckily for Vegas, Carter Harter stopped Jarvis’ backhand, but the threat wasn’t averted just yet.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
Durbin averted the shutout with his first solo shot to lead off the eighth, his second home run of the season and his first that didn’t come off a position player.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday turned away Judge Pauline Newman's bid to return to service on a federal appeals court after she was suspended from hearing cases due to concerns about her fitness to serve.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Raul Jiminez came close to a goal for the second time, this time on a cross into the box, but he was once again turned away by a diving Ronwen Williams, who pushed the ball aside.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
There was so much energy and enthusiasm and ambition coming out of those gatherings that anyone who got near us was in danger of being repelled by the sheer force of it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
-
State security forces repelled attacks on their positions and launched investigations to identify those responsible for organizing, financing and carrying out the violence, police said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Jurors found Othal Wallace, who resisted being detained, guilty of manslaughter, which carried a 30-year sentence.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staved off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staved%20off. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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