1
2
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
Examples of stave off in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Yankees mauled and mashed and manhandled the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, staving off a sweep with an 11-4 victory.
—
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Harris, meanwhile, has worked to stave off defections from the left over her support for arming Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
—Brian Bennett / Washington, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
But sometimes your best dinner-planning efforts can’t stave off those hunger pangs.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 28 Oct. 2024
Bridget Carleton made a pair of free throws with 2 seconds left and the Lynx were able to stave off elimination by beating New York 82-80 on Friday in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals in front of 19,210 boisterous fans at Target Center.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stave off 
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Harris, meanwhile, has worked to stave off defections from the left over her support for arming Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.
—Brian Bennett / Washington, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
But sometimes your best dinner-planning efforts can’t stave off those hunger pangs.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 28 Oct. 2024
Bridget Carleton made a pair of free throws with 2 seconds left and the Lynx were able to stave off elimination by beating New York 82-80 on Friday in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals in front of 19,210 boisterous fans at Target Center.
—Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
Verb
-
As this would clearly seem to spell trouble for the incumbent party, Harris has largely tried to change the subject, such as by parading around with Liz Cheney in an effort to drum up support from highly-engaged, news-attentive Republican voters repelled by Trump.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Israel's attack came in response to Iran's 180-missile attack against Israel three weeks earlier, which Israel's air defenses mostly repelled.Barak Ravid, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
In an abundance of caution to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease, 12 states prohibit the use of natural deer urine and permit only synthetic scents.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Airport staff is working closely with a professional wildlife control company to monitor the area, identify potential entry points and implement necessary precautions to prevent future incidents, the agency said.Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
California’s choice to resist potential policies that are threatening to its citizens is very necessary.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
-
Key Background Biden dropped out of the race on July 21 after resisting calls from within his own party for weeks to end his reelection bid in the wake of his disastrous performance in the June 27 debate.Sara Dorn, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
However, unlike other social media platforms, in the last year Twitch has largely averted controversies involving Israel and Gaza.Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
-
One juror frequently averted his eyes from the screen as a video from April 12, 2023 was shown.Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
As the girls were crossing the bridge, German turned back and posted several photos to Snapchat, including one of Williams minding her steps.Aja Romano, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
-
Another theory posits that the wiggling of Alfvén waves, oscillations in the Sun’s magnetic field that penetrate into the corona and turn back on themselves, can also inject energy into the solar wind.ByHannah Richter, science.org, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
-
When the woman finished praying and opened her eyes, the man and woman who’d run the scam were heading off with her money.Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
-
Harris will participate in radio interviews for stations in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin before heading off to the results party.Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
But Trump cannot turn away from China entirely, Wang said.Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
-
That’s when elections staff close the line, but those who are already queued won’t be turned away.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
He is especially repulsed by the behavior of Republicans after the 2020 election.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Is she drawn to Chevalier and his alleged acts, or repulsed by them?Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Oct. 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 20 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share