stave off

verb

staved off; staving off; staves off

Synonyms of stave off next

transitive verb

: to fend off

staving off creditors

: to ward off (something adverse) : forestall

trying to stave off disaster

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

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.

Despite the resilience of the U.S. economy in the post-pandemic years, the chance of a recession hitting the country hasn't been completely staved off. —

Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Now a pair of local legislators hope to offer state money to stave off more pain. —

Ryan Gillespie, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Jan. 2025 Dennis admits to an obsession with twins and to nursing a Parent Trap-esque fantasy as a child to stave off loneliness. —

Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025 The funds could stave off gentrification by creating a cohort of people who are able to cash in at around the same time and even pool resources to support their neighborhood. —

Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for stave off