obviate

verb

ob·​vi·​ate ˈäb-vē-ˌāt 

obviated; obviating

transitive verb

: to anticipate and prevent (something, such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary

The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery.

obviation

ˌäb-vē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Obviate derives from the Late Latin obviare (meaning "to meet or withstand") and the Latin obviam (meaning "in the way") and is also an ancestor of our adjective obvious. Obviate has a number of synonyms in English, including prevent, preclude, and avert; all of these words can mean "to hinder or stop something." When you prevent or preclude something, you put up an insurmountable obstacle. In addition, preclude often implies that a degree of chance was involved in stopping an event. Obviate generally suggests the use of intelligence or forethought to ward off trouble. Avert always implies that a bad situation has been anticipated and prevented or deflected by the application of immediate and effective means.

Synonyms

• avert
• forestall
• head off
• help
• preclude
• prevent
• stave off

Examples of obviate in a Sentence

The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery.

The new treatment obviates many of the risks associated with surgery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some Indians treated the curfew as the occasion to gather in festive crowds, obviating its intended purpose. —Vidya Krishnan, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2020

But the change didn’t necessarily obviate the need for the community’s parties: Nguyen said that early attempts at translation by the county were often poor or incomplete. —Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

This carrier said that the predictable cost obviates the need to track spending. —Zeus Kerravala, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Such cell lines would be gene-edited to be matched to patients, to obviate a strong need for immunosuppressants. —Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin obviatus, past participle of obviare to meet, withstand, from Latin obviam

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

obviate

verb

ob·​vi·​ate ˈäb-vē-ˌāt 

obviated; obviating

: to anticipate and take care of beforehand

obviate an objection