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as in to prevent
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 stave off
The debt limit was last suspended by Congress as part of a bipartisan bill struck between former President Biden and GOP leadership in 2023, staving off the threat of national default through early 2025.
—
Aris Folley, The Hill, 9 May 2025
From his memories as a high schooler working to stave off freezes in citrus groves to his present-day tenure as mayor, Johnson remembers 70 of the city’s 100 years.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2025
The concern is that an economy damaged by tariffs will force the Fed to cut interest rates to stave off job losses, at the risk of driving inflation higher.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 8 May 2025
Alternatively, bananas could be eaten as an afternoon snack, as the fiber content can help stave off hunger until dinner.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Aris Folley, The Hill, 9 May 2025
From his memories as a high schooler working to stave off freezes in citrus groves to his present-day tenure as mayor, Johnson remembers 70 of the city’s 100 years.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2025
The concern is that an economy damaged by tariffs will force the Fed to cut interest rates to stave off job losses, at the risk of driving inflation higher.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 8 May 2025
Alternatively, bananas could be eaten as an afternoon snack, as the fiber content can help stave off hunger until dinner.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
Verb
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The front element features a fluorine coating to help repel dust and dirt, although that front element does feel vulnerable to damage.—
James Abbott,
Space.com,
23 May 2025
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Speaking with Russian state-run news agency Interfax, Ushakov said Putin shared details about Ukrainian attacks that Russia claims to have repelled ahead of Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Verb
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This means implementing strong guardrails that prevent models from generating harmful content, engaging in deceptive practices, or making decisions that violate human rights.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
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Among them are those the provide access to transportation, prevent social isolation, deliver meals and offer assistance with Medicare and Medicaid.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Following the ordeal, Jung couldn't resist reliving the experience and sharing it on social media.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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Henry’s story is a lesson in how resisting new technology through sheer willpower can be self-defeating.—
Greg Edwards,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Verb
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The enclave needs at least 500 to 600 trucks daily to avert a deepening humanitarian catastrophe, as civilians face a severe shortage of supplies like food and medicine, said UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
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Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, the state’s largest nursing home coalition, praised Lamont and union leadership for averting a work stoppage.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Obama turned back and grabbed Biden's arm, guiding him backstage.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Hendricks turned back the clock on the Padres after the first inning.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2025
Verb
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The airfield famously hosted an aeronautical school in the 1940s, when the Army Air Corps relied on the facility to train aviators headed off to fight World War II.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 May 2025
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Doing so heads off the job board chaos to begin with.—
Rebecca Fraser-Thill,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Verb
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How can anyone turn away from the plight of a starving child?—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2025
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Taking time for yourself isn’t turning away but refueling for what lies ahead.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
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The obvious solution—getting a proper job—is, for Jack, a non-starter: conventional work repulses him.—
Peter C. Baker,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
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Image In the novel, Pabst starts off physically repulsed by the mere idea of working for the Reich, but gradually comes around.—
David Segal,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stave%20off. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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