as in averting
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better
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Recent Examples of preventing
They were not swayed by studies showing most adults on Medicaid already work or go to school or have health conditions preventing them from doing so.
—
Phil Galewitz, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The run production has been absolutely abysmal, and while each element of the game — hitting, starting pitching, relief pitching, and defense — has held the Mets back at some point or another, an inability to drive in runs has been preventing wins.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
The conference includes 191 treaty parties and convenes every five years to review implementation of the pact aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Circular has shown responsiveness to user feedback, releasing stability and performance updates since the Ring 2's rocky launch, but serious flaws persist, preventing me from recommending it.
—Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
The International Association of Machinists (IAM), which represents the Towson store, said that Apple is preventing its unionized workers from transferring to another store.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
In June 2024, it was officially named a cultural-historic landmark, preventing Milstein and Bank from razing it.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026
Nevertheless, some Ukrainian negotiators hope that renaming the area to honor Trump would both appeal to his ego and give him a public relations interest in preventing its capture by Russia.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
Phil Galewitz, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The run production has been absolutely abysmal, and while each element of the game — hitting, starting pitching, relief pitching, and defense — has held the Mets back at some point or another, an inability to drive in runs has been preventing wins.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
The conference includes 191 treaty parties and convenes every five years to review implementation of the pact aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Circular has shown responsiveness to user feedback, releasing stability and performance updates since the Ring 2's rocky launch, but serious flaws persist, preventing me from recommending it.
—Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
The move follows arguments from Maduro’s defense team, led by attorney Barry Pollack, that restrictions on payments violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by preventing him from choosing his legal representation.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
The International Association of Machinists (IAM), which represents the Towson store, said that Apple is preventing its unionized workers from transferring to another store.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
In June 2024, it was officially named a cultural-historic landmark, preventing Milstein and Bank from razing it.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026
Nevertheless, some Ukrainian negotiators hope that renaming the area to honor Trump would both appeal to his ego and give him a public relations interest in preventing its capture by Russia.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventing
Verb
-
The attempt went wide right, however, temporarily averting disaster.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Both lawmakers submitted formal resignation letters that were read on the House floor, averting potential expulsion actions by colleagues.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But even after hearing from Kelly and several distressed homeowners at the March 9 City Council meeting, Council members couldn’t reach consensus on key elements of the proposal, precluding a necessary approval for the ordinance to advance.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, which has played a large role in precluding a return.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Holland's not quite sure why so many in his generation are avoiding alcohol.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
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Nia has no interest at all in talking to them or even a strategy for avoiding them.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preventing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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