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
Made with Asics’ special ‘Puregel’ technology, the shoe has a cushy feel and shock absorption that staves off foot pain.
—
Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
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
Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staves off
Verb
-
Made from moisture-wicking fabric, this workout tank naturally repels sweat to keep you cool during high-intensity workouts and outdoor activities.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
Use a screen protectant that repels dust.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Banning social media also prevents kids from accessing useful content, the group said.—
Jon Brodkin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
-
The company also developed collision-avoidance software that prevents the robot’s arms from interfering with each other during operation.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Yet whenever Bunny turns away from Frank to take a call from one of his underlings about the day-to-day violence and ugliness of their industry, a somewhat disdainful look passes across Frank’s face.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The Spaniard receives with his back to goal and turns away from Morato before being brought down.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For now and unless Williams changes his mind again, the move averts a potential historic litigation where Washington planned to sue Williams over his plan to switch schools.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The reopening averts a recession that may have come to pass in the event of a prolonged shutdown lasting weeks or months longer, analysts told ABC News.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This is something that finally repulses Ivor, and that Orla also grapples with.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
Verb
-
Dalot turns back inside, and then immediately looks to play over the high press.—
Jon Mackenzie,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Hearing the Creature screaming his name, Victor turns back.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Yet Smith resists the idea that Democrats should define a future majority solely through investigations.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 June 2026
-
There’s also a broader cultural undercurrent shaping all of this—a down-to-earth atmosphere that resists hierarchy and self-importance.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staves off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staves%20off. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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