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
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Recent Examples of staving off
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
To his credit, Onana remained at the heart of the battle and was evidently key to Villa staving off Bournemouth’s set-play threat.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Gibney illustrates that state of waiting, of staving off what at that time appears to be the inevitable, with the famous sequence from Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, in which Max von Sydow’s medieval knight plays chess with Death on a desolate beach.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
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
To his credit, Onana remained at the heart of the battle and was evidently key to Villa staving off Bournemouth’s set-play threat.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Gibney illustrates that state of waiting, of staving off what at that time appears to be the inevitable, with the famous sequence from Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, in which Max von Sydow’s medieval knight plays chess with Death on a desolate beach.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staving off
Verb
-
But French Fiction is turning back after running a one-and-one-sixteenth-mile race at the Ashland.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Chubb said the majority of investors will keep turning back to what has been the driver of the bull run since late 2022.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But in a complaint filed in federal court Tuesday, the Teamsters alleged the zoo had locked the workers out of the zoo’s computer system, preventing the zookeepers from accessing new medications and refills for the animals in their care.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
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One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles; a second dose boosts effectiveness even further — to 97%, according to the CDC.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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After losing a child far too young, a parent might be forgiven for turning away from the world, shrinking in their grief.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
If successful, more inmates will pursue a path of recovery and become productive citizens, turning away from a life of crime.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The attempt went wide right, however, temporarily averting disaster.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Both lawmakers submitted formal resignation letters that were read on the House floor, averting potential expulsion actions by colleagues.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tristan Jarry got his first start of the series, repelling 34 pucks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest pest problems for eggplants, and marigolds' strong smell is excellent for repelling nematodes.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Before heading off to shower and change for the Barranquilla show, Balvin assessed his expectations for his beloved Colombian football team at the World Cup.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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The Twins will have Monday off before heading off on a six-game road trip that will take them to Washington and Cleveland.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The man was later booked on suspicion of crimes that included corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, robbery, resisting arrest, and drug possession after he was found with methamphetamine.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
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Finally, Teo says Ethereal’s success stems in part from sticking to early-stage startups and resisting the temptation to jump on bandwagons.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
4 May 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 9 May. 2026.
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