1
as in turning back
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in preventing
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of staving off
His being here—scraping, sanding, painting, sitting across the table from us for dinner most nights—had been one of the joys of the past few weeks, a way of staving off the tension of moving and the sameness of the routine with the kids and the meals and the bedtime stories and all the rest.
—
T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
And no longevity-claiming therapy is considered fruitful without sound research that confirms efficacy after following a diverse cohort of humans for decades to see if the therapy is associated with extended life or staving off chronic disease.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Mexico's move is intended to protect its domestic producers from these latest tariffs while preserving internal supplies and staving off downward price pressures.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
The film depicts a world where the Four are something like the Beatles, the Kennedys, the Curies, and the Brady Bunch all in one, a globe-bestriding celebrity family responsible for staving off supernatural threats and, seemingly, establishing world peace.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
T. Coraghessan Boyle, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
And no longevity-claiming therapy is considered fruitful without sound research that confirms efficacy after following a diverse cohort of humans for decades to see if the therapy is associated with extended life or staving off chronic disease.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Mexico's move is intended to protect its domestic producers from these latest tariffs while preserving internal supplies and staving off downward price pressures.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
The film depicts a world where the Four are something like the Beatles, the Kennedys, the Curies, and the Brady Bunch all in one, a globe-bestriding celebrity family responsible for staving off supernatural threats and, seemingly, establishing world peace.
—Derek Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staving off
Verb
-
The back caught just two of his six targets, earned Nix’s slight ire after not turning back for the ball on a third down, and was relegated mostly to the bench in the second half.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
8 Sep. 2025
-
And, George, turning back to Chicago.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Keeping up with your shower's health is key to preventing mold from growing in the first place.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The company has also tried to limit unsolicited messages for users under 18, preventing teen profiles from being public or widely recommended.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And did a focus on militant Islamism mean turning away from threats posed by white supremacist groups?—
September 11,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Poison for one’s brand, such corporate drivel undermines trust in you and your company, turning away prospects.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The two sides reached terms on a renewal after a short-term extension to their previous pact, averting a blackout of Fox News and other nets on YouTube TV.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Your LinkedIn profile transformation starts now Your profile is either attracting dream clients or repelling them.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In this growing method, fruit trees are grown near particular companion plants that benefit fruit tree growth, such as pest-repelling flowers, soil-improving legumes, or weed-suppressing groundcovers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, becoming an expat is not always as simple as packing up your bags and heading off to wherever calls your name.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The broadcasting deals were revealed in exclusivity to Variety on Monday by global distributor Federation International, as 150 world buyers were heading off to this week’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Le Havre, the world’s largest dedicated market for French audiovisual content.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
She has been charged with child endangerment, resisting arrest, false identification to law enforcement and obstructing an officer among other charges, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
-
This data undercuts the common fear that resisting an activist will lead to wholesale turnover of the board.—
Kai Liekefett,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staving off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staving%20off. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share