stave off
verb
staved off; staving off; staves off
1
: to fend off
staving off creditors
2
: to ward off (something adverse) : forestall
trying to stave off disaster
Synonyms
Examples of stave off in a Sentence
managed to stave off the invaders
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Recent Examples on the Web
After wasting a double-digit lead the night before against the Kings, the Heat staved off the Warriors’ second-half comeback attempt on Tuesday.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Boeing raised billions this fall to stave off the crisis.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2025
The mother orca nudges her dead calf with her snout, draping it over her head, and gripping its tiny fin with her teeth, to stave off the inevitable.
—Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Neighbors banded together Dozens of communities across the U.S. formed Y2K preparedness groups to stave off unnecessary panic.
—Jack Mitchell, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stave off 
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Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
Boeing raised billions this fall to stave off the crisis.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2025
The mother orca nudges her dead calf with her snout, draping it over her head, and gripping its tiny fin with her teeth, to stave off the inevitable.
—Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Neighbors banded together Dozens of communities across the U.S. formed Y2K preparedness groups to stave off unnecessary panic.
—Jack Mitchell, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stave off
Dictionary Entries Near stave off
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stave%20off. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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