as in preventing
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
brushing regularly should obviate the need for frequent trips to the dentist
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Recent Examples of obviating
New designs and operating methods are also obviating the noise that older-style centers once created.
—
Mehdi Paryavi, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The area vacated by that project — more than 30 acres — is large enough to build a new arena, obviating the need to tear down City Hall for that purpose.
—Mark Lamster
architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Dan Lawrence’s son, Luke, piloting Ariel, which once belonged to the Roosevelts’ neighbor Archie Rogers, took the first heat, and then the second, obviating the need for a third.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Even the hefty, vintage camcorder Matthew totes around to film his documentary drops us directly into his leering point of view, crash zooming in on Oliver’s face and obviating boundaries.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Often, the liquid gets poured right to the brim, obviating any attempt at swirling and sniffing.
—Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2022
Mehdi Paryavi, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The area vacated by that project — more than 30 acres — is large enough to build a new arena, obviating the need to tear down City Hall for that purpose.
—Mark Lamster
architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Dan Lawrence’s son, Luke, piloting Ariel, which once belonged to the Roosevelts’ neighbor Archie Rogers, took the first heat, and then the second, obviating the need for a third.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Even the hefty, vintage camcorder Matthew totes around to film his documentary drops us directly into his leering point of view, crash zooming in on Oliver’s face and obviating boundaries.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Often, the liquid gets poured right to the brim, obviating any attempt at swirling and sniffing.
—Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obviating
Verb
-
The president has repeatedly said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was the war's top objective.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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Awareness over new laws designed for protection and legislation that stops short of holding websites and social media platforms accountable have posed hurdles to preventing the harm.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
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The scene plays out as if the actors are politely averting their eyes while performing, without conjuring the deep moral revulsion Wolfe and LaChiusa might’ve intended.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, which has played a large role in precluding a return.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
-
He was selected for the All-Star Game for the 22nd time in his career despite missing 18 games due to injury, precluding him from consideration for the postseason All-NBA teams.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s chances of avoiding the NBA’s play-in tournament are now very slim.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The loss was Orlando’s eighth in the past 10 games as the team continues to trend the opposite direction of avoiding the Play-In Tournament.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obviating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obviating. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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