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as in to prevent
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
the quartermaster staved off a shortage by requisitioning more than enough supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of stave off
But duration alone isn’t enough to stave off the risks of an irregular schedule, the researchers found.
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Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the way with 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field, and Coby White added 22 points, while Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a handful of plays to help stave off a wild Knicks’ late-game comeback.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024
Without a House majority, Trump would be forced to negotiate with Jeffries and Democrats on must-pass legislation like the spending bills that keep the government's doors open and stave off catastrophic shutdowns.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024
Revenue growth could stave off cuts and fund new projects.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stave off 
Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
For the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the way with 31 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field, and Coby White added 22 points, while Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a handful of plays to help stave off a wild Knicks’ late-game comeback.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2024
Without a House majority, Trump would be forced to negotiate with Jeffries and Democrats on must-pass legislation like the spending bills that keep the government's doors open and stave off catastrophic shutdowns.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024
Revenue growth could stave off cuts and fund new projects.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
Verb
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Macy's repelled a $6.9 billion take-private offer and a near-board fight from Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management earlier this year.Kimberly Chin, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
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And by galvanizing Arab states to help repel Iran’s April attack, the Israelis have shown that Arab governments are willing to join the Jewish state in deterring Iran, despite the sympathy for the Palestinians among Arab populations.Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The rules were intended to prevent Social Security from overpaying people who worked in non-covered pension jobs, policy experts said.Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Seconds later, the officers and paramedics picked Stevens up and put him on a stretcher with his legs still hobbled, his hands in cuffs behind his back and a spit hood over his head, a type of bag used to prevent people from spitting or biting.Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The president apologized to the nation on Saturday morning but resisted calls to resign ahead of the vote.Cynthia Kim, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
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Clients Resisting Change; Coaches Not Building Trust Executive coaching may not succeed if the client resists change and seeks validation rather than growth.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Some experts suggested that conducting those checks earlier could have helped avert scandals that have engulfed nominees such as Hegseth — and forced his first pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R-Fla.), to withdraw. Also facing a tough lift?Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed confidence last week that a tariff war could be averted after a phone call with Trump.Diane Brady, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Kobayashi’s phone’s was last turned on at LAX on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. and hasn’t been turned back on since.Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
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In White House comments, President Joe Biden said the deal would allow his Middle East team to turn back to securing an elusive ceasefire deal in Gaza.Howard LaFranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In Interstellar, the thematic fulcrum on which the whole movie turns is a series of scenes where our hero Coop (McConaughey) says good-bye to his 10-year-old daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy) in her room before heading off to space for one last mission.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
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Upon their return, Andy heads over to convince the four castaways, while Sam and Genevieve head off to make the fake immunity idol statue.Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Many people, perhaps women most of all, have been quietly turning away from heterosexual partnership.Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024
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In total, 13 commits turned away from their pledge to the Trojans during this recruiting cycle, among the most of any program in the country.Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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She’s repulsed by her husband, Jim (Clifford Kershaw), whose grabby hands demand her body and attention, often without her consent.Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
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Over decades, my attempts to conquer the Spanish language have been repulsed.Calvin Trillin, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near stave off
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stave%20off. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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