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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
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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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Because oil is hydrophobic (repels water), washing with just water is usually insufficient to clean hair.Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024
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The Russian report about Belousov’s visit came as South Korea scrambled fighter jets to repel six Russian and five Chinese warplanes that temporarily entered the country’s air defense identification zone around its eastern and southern seas, according to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.Kim Tong-Hyung, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
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On the bright side, since persistently high inflation, induced by hefty tariffs, would prevent the Fed from lowering borrowing costs, cash-like and bond investments could keep some of their luster for a little longer, too.Bryan Mena, CNN, 1 Dec. 2024
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These maps show why Nov. 21, 2024 Environmental advocates also worry that the forest thinning portion of the project will focus more on biofuel companies’ bottom lines than forest health, doing little to prevent wildfires.Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 1 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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The Saffiano leather with a subtle cross-hatch texture is the main detail that makes this bag look extra luxe, and it’s been treated to resist water and scratches to be most practical.Mina Hochberg, Southern Living, 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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Guests sipped espresso martinis and shimmied to a band performing camp classics from the Pointer Sisters to Tina Turner before heading off into the typically drizzly London night.Liam Hess, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2024
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Now streaming on Prime Video, the coming-of-age tale with a dash of fantasy centers on 18-year-old Elliott (Maisy Stella), who’s in the process of enjoying her final lakeside summer before heading off to the University of Toronto.Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 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 15 Dec. 2024.
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