stave off

verb

Definition of stave offnext
1
as in to repel
to drive back managed to stave off the invaders

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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 stave off Paige Bueckers had 21 points and six rebounds for Dallas, which won seven of eight to end the season to earn the seventh seed and will now try to stave off elimination at home. — CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 While certainly not a cure-all, taking supplements could even help to stave off seasonal affective disorder (SAD) at this time of year. — Violet Hayward, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026 To help stave off conflict, the study’s authors said, parents should be proactive about tough conversations and should consider an independent or professional fiduciary. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 Healthy digestion and a healthy gut play a role in staving off inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). — Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
  1. repel
  2. prevent
  3. resist
  4. avert
  5. turn back
  6. head off
  7. turn away
  8. repulse
Verb
  • During wetter years, trees are healthier and can more easily repel the beetle with sap.
    — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The wax repels liquid water but keeps tiny pores, so vapor can still escape.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • Anthropic contacted the task force to disclose the latest incident and has a history of reporting security episodes publicly and tweaking models to prevent more harm.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There are scores of websites, social-media groups, and YouTube channels dedicated to analyzing and documenting crashes, ostensibly with the goal of preventing future mishaps in flight.
    — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of prevent
Verb
  • And strength to resist reducing complex human challenges to slogans, enemies, or simple answers.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The new generation of therapeutic peptides is chemically modified to resist breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract, where traditional peptide drugs degrade before they can be absorbed.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Jackson averted a suspension ahead of this season when authorities declined to file formal criminal charges after he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In Spaceship Earth, when a mission to avert an imminent global cataclysm goes awry, a small band of teenagers from Earth’s past and future must join forces to confront a threat as vast and mysterious as time itself.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of avert
Verb
  • Among those rescued was Chinese tourist Weiwei Zhao, who had been trekking with a friend but turned back because of heavy snowfall.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Forty percent of the broad market index is made up of tech stocks, which have surged recently as investors — wary of higher interest rates — turn back to those companies most able to weather any sudden downturn.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • At one point, the owner can be seen pointing in a different direction, then heads off to help another customer.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The video shows a Jeep Grand Cherokee repeatedly backing up into the front door of the restaurant before its driver eventually heads off.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of head off
Verb
  • Many of the nation’s most elite institutions have recently turned away from test-blind or test-optional admission policies.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The property can house up to 250 animals, some of which may require specialized care or may have illnesses or specific diseases that would, in most cases, cause them to be euthanized or turned away.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of turn away
Verb
  • Her widowed aunt plays chaperone as Susanna attends heady lectures and repulses her many suitors.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Young people just aren’t interested, partly because they’re repulsed by bodily fluids.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of repulse

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staved off
stave off
staves off
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Cite this Entry

“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stave%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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