as in to avert
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better
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Recent Examples of prevent
As an opioid itself, buprenorphine excites opioid receptors, preventing withdrawal symptoms.
—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
In a 2-1 vote, a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decided to keep in place a temporary restraining order by a lower court judge that prevents Trump from removing Office of Special Counsel chief Hampton Dellinger, an appointee of former President Joe Biden.
—Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Feb. 2025
Court rulings have prevented the administration from firing thousands at USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
Funding cuts could prevent the FDA from making important recalls like the recent one on Lay's potato chips for undeclared milk allergens, Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
In a 2-1 vote, a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decided to keep in place a temporary restraining order by a lower court judge that prevents Trump from removing Office of Special Counsel chief Hampton Dellinger, an appointee of former President Joe Biden.
—Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Feb. 2025
Court rulings have prevented the administration from firing thousands at USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
Funding cuts could prevent the FDA from making important recalls like the recent one on Lay's potato chips for undeclared milk allergens, Kevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent
Verb
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However, a multimillion-dollar ballot battle was averted in 2023 with compromise legislation.—
Dan Walters,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
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Listen to this article State lawmakers will again juggle a pair of competing bills aimed at boosting protections for homebuyers or spurring more condo construction — while trying to avert the impasses that killed the parallel efforts last year.—
Seth Klamann,
The Denver Post,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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On the other other hand, the fact there isn’t such a treaty doesn’t preclude the state from honoring specific extradition requests depending on the crime.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2025
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Current customers would be precluded from paying for the additional power generated for new heavy users.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In a post on X, the NYPD asked people to avoid the area as the investigation proceeded.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2025
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While Janice avoids even visiting Eric in prison, she is torn between cleaning out his room and grappling with the role of faith and religion.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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