1
as in turning back
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in preventing
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of staving off
And no longevity-claiming therapy is considered fruitful without sound research that confirms efficacy after following a diverse cohort of humans for decades to see if the therapy is associated with extended life or staving off chronic disease.
—
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Mexico's move is intended to protect its domestic producers from these latest tariffs while preserving internal supplies and staving off downward price pressures.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
The film depicts a world where the Four are something like the Beatles, the Kennedys, the Curies, and the Brady Bunch all in one, a globe-bestriding celebrity family responsible for staving off supernatural threats and, seemingly, establishing world peace.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
But staving off the existential threat is only a first step.
—Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Mexico's move is intended to protect its domestic producers from these latest tariffs while preserving internal supplies and staving off downward price pressures.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
The film depicts a world where the Four are something like the Beatles, the Kennedys, the Curies, and the Brady Bunch all in one, a globe-bestriding celebrity family responsible for staving off supernatural threats and, seemingly, establishing world peace.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
But staving off the existential threat is only a first step.
—Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staving off
Verb
-
Chapman is in the midst of a career season at age 37, turning back the clock to re-establish himself as one of baseball’s most dominant closers.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Those remains still saturate the soil of the now quaint hills and regrown forests surrounding the salient that once proved so vital to preventing the invading German forces from reaching Paris.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Among the reasons the name was chosen, according to historians, was to signal that the United States prioritized preventing wars in the post-World War II nuclear age.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Poison for one’s brand, such corporate drivel undermines trust in you and your company, turning away prospects.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Our early evening view is gradually turning away from the direction of space occupied by Bootes.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In this growing method, fruit trees are grown near particular companion plants that benefit fruit tree growth, such as pest-repelling flowers, soil-improving legumes, or weed-suppressing groundcovers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
-
These posts filter your audience, attracting those who align with your values while repelling those who don't.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, becoming an expat is not always as simple as packing up your bags and heading off to wherever calls your name.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The broadcasting deals were revealed in exclusivity to Variety on Monday by global distributor Federation International, as 150 world buyers were heading off to this week’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre, the world’s largest dedicated market for French audiovisual content.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nash was arrested and booked into the Gila County Jail on charges of murder, endangerment and resisting arrest, police said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday resisting any potential federal deployment.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staving off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staving%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share