PREVENTS Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

prevents

verb

present tense third-person singular of prevent

as in averts

to keep from happening by taking action in advance a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of prevents Users were likely restricted from properly spelling out such words because, by design, the platform prevents emoji from being used more than once in reaction to a post. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 In addition to being barred from ever owning livestock again, Barr’s plea agreement prevents him from owning or living with any type of animal for 15 years, according to PETA. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026 Drying towels separately prevents longer drying times caused by restricted airflow and moisture differences. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026 Locking that in on arrival prevents surprises deeper into a back-to-back trip stretch. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Bootcap goes on the toe of ski boots to create an insulation barrier and prevents cold from getting in and heat from getting out. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy said the ruling prevents the administration from permanently closing the facility. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 OpenShell also provides a safety layer that prevents an agent from ever seeing an actual API password or login token. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 The resulting walk-away safe design prevents fuel meltdowns by basic physical principles, which significantly lowers manufacturing costs and trims regulatory hurdles. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevents

Verb

But multiple studies have shown the flu vaccine reduces the disease’s severity and averts hospitalizations and deaths.

— Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2026
At every save point, the game forces James to stare at his reflection, and after the story’s plot twist, James averts his eyes, unable to face his own guilt.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of averts

Verb

The justices have been asked to determine whether states and localities have the ability to sue fossil fuel companies for damages caused by the effects of climate change, or whether federal law precludes such lawsuits.

— Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
This is excessive and precludes many New Yorkers from attending.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of precludes

Browse Nearby Words

preventives

prevents

preview

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prevents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevents. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of prevents

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes