ward off
phrasal verb
warded off; warding off; wards off
: to avoid being hit by (something)
ward off a blow
—often used figurativelyI tried different remedies to ward off a cold.
Examples of ward off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some take time to meditate and reflect on the universe, while others engage in rituals to ward off negative energies.
—
Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
That’s why the city’s Democratic mayor, 43-year-old Leonardo Williams, was already brainstorming ways to ward off another financial blow.
—Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
If an unvaccinated person is exposed to measles and hasn’t developed symptoms yet, an MMR vaccine can ward off infection if administered within 72 hours.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
The conventional method involved securing digital entry points using firewalls to ward off potential threats, but the rise in multicloud usage and the adoption of hybrid work environments are making these approaches outdated and ineffectual.
—Anudeep Parhar, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Olaplex Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit The hair-strengthening kit contains a bond-maintenance shampoo and conditioner, as well as a bottle of the cult-classic No. 3 Hair Perfector—beloved for its ability to ward off breakage and repair the hair.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Officials said the fireworks are to ward off evil spirits for the upcoming year.
—Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2024
After the Wildcats’ first-round collapse against Princeton last season, Lloyd needed a Sweet 16 appearance to ward off those skeptical of his ability to navigate March.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
The treatment can potentially ward off weeks of waiting, worrying and bleeding.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
That’s why the city’s Democratic mayor, 43-year-old Leonardo Williams, was already brainstorming ways to ward off another financial blow.
—Danielle Paquette, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
If an unvaccinated person is exposed to measles and hasn’t developed symptoms yet, an MMR vaccine can ward off infection if administered within 72 hours.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
The conventional method involved securing digital entry points using firewalls to ward off potential threats, but the rise in multicloud usage and the adoption of hybrid work environments are making these approaches outdated and ineffectual.
—Anudeep Parhar, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Olaplex Strong Days Ahead Hair Kit The hair-strengthening kit contains a bond-maintenance shampoo and conditioner, as well as a bottle of the cult-classic No. 3 Hair Perfector—beloved for its ability to ward off breakage and repair the hair.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Officials said the fireworks are to ward off evil spirits for the upcoming year.
—Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2024
After the Wildcats’ first-round collapse against Princeton last season, Lloyd needed a Sweet 16 appearance to ward off those skeptical of his ability to navigate March.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
The treatment can potentially ward off weeks of waiting, worrying and bleeding.
—Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ward off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ward off
Cite this Entry
“Ward off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ward%20off. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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