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
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
Harvard gutted out the disadvantages, though, staving off wave after wave of Boston University pressure to eventually force overtime.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
The original language of the Clean Water Act – which is widely credited with staving off and, in some cases, reversing water pollution for more than a half-century – explicitly mentions environmental and human health, yet says nothing about economic prosperity.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Your book is full of practical strategies for staving off digital exhaustion.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Rather than reaching for the same basic jeans over and over again, celebrities have been staving off sartorial-boredom with outfit-making pants.
—Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
But when cold weather rushes in, a good eye mask becomes essential for staving off dark circles, dry skin, and the puffiness that follows a late night of caviar, blinis, and martinis (‘tis the season to indulge, after all).
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
The two must figure out how to cultivate their blossoming relationship while staving off the suspicions of a jealous colleague.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
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
Harvard gutted out the disadvantages, though, staving off wave after wave of Boston University pressure to eventually force overtime.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
The original language of the Clean Water Act – which is widely credited with staving off and, in some cases, reversing water pollution for more than a half-century – explicitly mentions environmental and human health, yet says nothing about economic prosperity.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Your book is full of practical strategies for staving off digital exhaustion.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Rather than reaching for the same basic jeans over and over again, celebrities have been staving off sartorial-boredom with outfit-making pants.
—Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
But when cold weather rushes in, a good eye mask becomes essential for staving off dark circles, dry skin, and the puffiness that follows a late night of caviar, blinis, and martinis (‘tis the season to indulge, after all).
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
The two must figure out how to cultivate their blossoming relationship while staving off the suspicions of a jealous colleague.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staving off
Verb
-
On the matter of civil rights for all Californians, there was no turning back.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
William Johnston, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, previously told USA TODAY that abstaining from eating meat is also a form of penance – admitting to any wrongdoings and sins while turning back to belief in God.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Two months after the anniversary of the devastating Southern California firestorms, several legislators at the state Capitol unveiled a package of bills aimed at preventing wildfires and lessening their harms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
As tech companies race to create the most advanced AI technologies, preventing real-world harm has been a significant technical challenge.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The United Kingdom has started strictly enforcing its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), turning away travelers without the digital form.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The individual, their face covered in a ski mask, appears to fiddle with the camera with a gloved hand before turning away to look for something to obscure the lens.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Feb. 2026
-
In some ways, the moment was a replay of 1977, but this time Woodruff looked directly at Walker, instead of averting his eyes.—
Jennifer Gonnerman,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some plants also make good companions for carrots, either by repelling pests or creating the conditions that carrots like to grow in.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
-
To protect your crops, consider growing insect-repelling plants.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Witt will spend a few weeks in camp before heading off to join Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Cochran left home for Charlotte in 2008 to study at Johnson & Wales, earning double degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management before heading off to New York in search of great things.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Leon also faces a Level 6 felony battery count and a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement for kicking a Portage Police officer at the Northwest Health-Portage facility and persistently refusing to follow orders from arresting officers, documents state.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Organizers held a series of events focused on resisting immigration enforcement actions and calling for the abolition of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to its website.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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 Mar. 2026.
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