1
as in turning back
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of staving off
Pavers or concrete designed to mimic natural stone slabs visually break up the surface, staving off parking lot connotations.
—
Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
His last adventure involved him staving off a multiversal crisis by making everyone in the world forget him, including his best friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon).
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The research suggests that staving off loneliness requires putting away our devices and connecting with other people in person.
—CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Now that the euphoria of David Pastrnak’s overtime game-winner has now subsided, the Bruins get back to the business of staving off elimination at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres in Friday’s Game 6 at the Garden.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The link between flossing and disease prevention On top of staving off periodontal disease, research shows that regular flossing is associated with reduced risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.
—Michele Ross, SELF, 22 Apr. 2026
Kansas City voters overwhelmingly renewed the city’s 1% earnings tax on Tuesday, maintaining a critical funding source for city services and unmistakably staving off concerns that the city’s budget could be thrown into disarray.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Its duration favors the studios by staving off another renegotiation and potential work stoppage until 2030.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Maintaining ties with Tehran is crucial for containing domestic tensions and staving off an insurgency from the minority Baloch community there.
—Kyra Colah, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 21 May 2026
His last adventure involved him staving off a multiversal crisis by making everyone in the world forget him, including his best friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon).
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The research suggests that staving off loneliness requires putting away our devices and connecting with other people in person.
—CNN Money, 6 May 2026
Now that the euphoria of David Pastrnak’s overtime game-winner has now subsided, the Bruins get back to the business of staving off elimination at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres in Friday’s Game 6 at the Garden.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The link between flossing and disease prevention On top of staving off periodontal disease, research shows that regular flossing is associated with reduced risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.
—Michele Ross, SELF, 22 Apr. 2026
Kansas City voters overwhelmingly renewed the city’s 1% earnings tax on Tuesday, maintaining a critical funding source for city services and unmistakably staving off concerns that the city’s budget could be thrown into disarray.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Its duration favors the studios by staving off another renegotiation and potential work stoppage until 2030.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Maintaining ties with Tehran is crucial for containing domestic tensions and staving off an insurgency from the minority Baloch community there.
—Kyra Colah, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staving off
Verb
-
Which had Riley then turning back to the East.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
-
Surveillance video of the same moment from a different angle appears to show Toledo with his right arm behind the fence, possibly making a throwing motion, and then turning back toward the officer.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Goldman later cited a Manhattan federal district judge's late May ruling preventing ICE from arresting people attending immigration court during routine, mandatory check-ins.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Kim has called for creating a public disaster insurance program and advocated for preventing companies from raising rates after someone files a home or auto insurance claim.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
But when turning away becomes habitual, relationships begin to feel emotionally lonely.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
-
In the reading, 1 Kings Chapter 9, God warns King Solomon against turning away from him as Solomon consecrates the temple in Jerusalem.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
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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,
15 May 2026
-
The attempt went wide right, however, temporarily averting disaster.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, Hawaii Forest & Trail has permission to take small groups to the summit on a five-hour Hidden Craters Hike that includes repelling into and scrambling through a large lava tube.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The chemical is believed to work in a number of ways—jamming smell detectors so that mosquitoes cannot recognize a human or animal target, conferring a bitter taste that mosquitoes detect on their feet, or mimicking the smell of natural mosquito-repelling plants.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Three-time state Division 4 cross country champion Chiara Dailey of La Jolla High School is looking to win her first gold medal on the track before heading off to Stanford.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
The Malt Shop opened in Parker County in 1958, when two military brothers built it for their wives before heading off to war.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Moore was initially facing charges of breaking or entering, resisting a public officer and assault of a government official or employee, but the latter two charges have since been dismissed.—
Jericka Duncan,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
-
She was initially charged with misdemeanor breaking or entering, resisting arrest and assault on a government official.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staving off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staving%20off. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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