1
as in repels
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prevents
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 staves off
Health policy researchers and economists say providing Medicaid coverage to immigrants for preventive services and treatment of chronic health conditions staves off more costly care for patients down the road.
—
Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
Health policy researchers and economists say providing Medicaid coverage to immigrants for preventive services and treatment of chronic health conditions staves off more costly care for patients down the road.
—Angela Hart, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Frequent tennis play improves bone density, which staves off fractures and osteoporosis.
—Alexandra Moe, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2025
Health policy researchers and economists say providing Medicaid coverage to immigrants for preventive services and treatment of chronic health conditions staves off more costly care for patients down the road.
—Angela Hart, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Frequent tennis play improves bone density, which staves off fractures and osteoporosis.
—Alexandra Moe, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staves off
Verb
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The windshield repels the huddled form and the thump on the pavement sounds like a rebuke.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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It’s made from solid red wood cedar that’s water-resistant, won’t decay, and repels insects.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However, most apple juices available for purchase have vitamin C added as ascorbic acid, an antioxidant that prevents discoloration and improves the juice's shelf life.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
8 Jan. 2026
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The agency said it’s been blocked from sharing information since last year when state lawmakers passed The Rex and Brody Act, which prevents public access to autopsy photos and reports of minors killed through domestic violence.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For instance, with the North Node moving into Aquarius (your eighth house of intimacy) and the South Node in Leo, your focus turns away from clinging to pride and comfort, and toward deeper emotional exchange.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Timothée Chalamet returns alongside Zendaya and Florence Pugh as the film turns away from conquest and toward consequence.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Corps project averts potential catastrophic flooding that could lay siege to about 475,000 residents, California and the nation, according to the government’s court documents.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Today’s agreement, struck on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, averts another escalation of tensions between the world’s two great powers.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Doing so will ensure your paperwork is processed and ready to go when the spigot turns back on.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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And Keenan Allen turns back the clock.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The research team revealed that plastination is a new method for managing moisture in wood by replacing water in the cellular structure with a silicone compound to create a durable, hydrophobic barrier that resists swelling, rotting, and cracking.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
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So, for me, that was the creation of the Anti-American Speech Committee, which is a government panel essentially designed to prosecute artists for holding views or creating work that resists basically the fascist state that has overtaken the American government.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staves off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staves%20off. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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