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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stave off
That kind of meal can be hard on someone who's been eating clean for weeks, so keeping a good digestive tea handy can stave off bloating and other issues.
—
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
None of the major chains charged them until the early 2000s when, facing declining sales, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, and Domino’s started charging between 50 cents and $1 for deliveries in a bid to stave off declining sales.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 28 Feb. 2025
Milwaukee staved off disaster warnings with an inspired (if cosmetic) run for the NBA Cup.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Lowry will have his hands full staving off the strongest field to date in 2025.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
None of the major chains charged them until the early 2000s when, facing declining sales, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, and Domino’s started charging between 50 cents and $1 for deliveries in a bid to stave off declining sales.
—Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 28 Feb. 2025
Milwaukee staved off disaster warnings with an inspired (if cosmetic) run for the NBA Cup.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Lowry will have his hands full staving off the strongest field to date in 2025.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stave off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stave off
Verb
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Wool Rugs Wool rugs maintain their shape and texture more easily than any synthetic blend due to their durable fiber quality, which also naturally repels dirt and dust.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2025
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Humans aren’t the only ones repelled by penguin poo, however.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Public-private partnerships can bolster this effort by funding and implementing robust digital infrastructure, preventing advances in AI and computing from becoming the exclusive privilege of wealthier communities.—
Cathy Hackl,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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These include: Prescription medication: Your healthcare provider may prescribe eye drops that help your eyes produce more tears or prevent evaporation.—
Sarah Bence,
Health,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This was done by using the slender bridges to form triangles, a rigid shape found in engineering and architecture to resist bending and warping.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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These maps, based on research into earthquake sources such as faults and how seismic waves move through the earth’s crust, are used to determine the forces that structures in each community should be designed to resist.—
Jonathan P. Stewart,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The periods between these evolutionary steps present opportunities to slow this process and possibly avert a global disaster.—
Ron Barrett,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2025
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Yet the decree was soon averted in the most Trumpian of ways: with a deal.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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A number of overnight flights out of L.A. were asked to turn back three to four hours into their journeys.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2025
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More than likely, they are caught, Helly is forced to go upstairs to turn back into Helena, and either Mark is murdered for doing such damage to Lumon’s plan (and for killing a Lumon executive), or Innie Mark essentially dies when Lumon also forces him to go upstairs.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Here’s what to know before heading off to the game.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Later, after crossing the Southwest runway, the plane was directed to head off to a section of the airport and call the control tower.—
Sarah Freishtat,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The legal document details that Lawrence didn’t have the correct paperwork to take her dog, a 9-year-old miniature schnauzer, on the flight and was subsequently turned away.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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An American retreat to isolationist policies, spotlit by the constant coverage President Trump's actions garner, is already prompting a turn away from the U.S. and our democratic values toward our adversaries, like Russia and China.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kay’s particular diet was a recurring talking point on the show, with condiments such as ketchup and mayo among the foods that repulsed the TV voice of the Yankees.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 Jan. 2025
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These same, once skeptical business leaders rallied around Trump in 2017 but were repulsed by many of his words and actions within eight months, withdrawing support, not returning to give him a second chance until now.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stave off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stave%20off. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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