1
as in repulsed
to drive back
managed to stave off the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prevented
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
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Recent Examples of staved off
The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination for the second straight game with a clutch Game 5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, but celebrations were briefly halted when a skirmish erupted over a controversial hit on Sidney Crosby after the final buzzer.
—
Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
That threat, which critics warned could be a war crime if carried out, appears to have been staved off for now.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
That threat, which critics warned could be a war crime if carried out, appears to have been staved off for now at the 11th hour.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
And this was on a night when Doncic scored 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) as the Lakers staved off the Brooklyn Nets, finally pulling away for a 116-99 win on Friday night, their 11th victory in 12 games.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
While other local stores struggled, Outpost weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with support from its members and staved off staff cuts, according to Margaret Mittelstadt, director of community relations and Outpost staff member since 2004.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026
But the Rams staved off the running clock with reserve Jordan Houston draining a 3-point shot and another basket.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
But the penalty kill, led by goalie Matt Wright (12 saves), staved off the first to get back to one-man down, and Ryan scooped a loose puck from the neutral zone for a drive to the net.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
That threat, which critics warned could be a war crime if carried out, appears to have been staved off for now.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
That threat, which critics warned could be a war crime if carried out, appears to have been staved off for now at the 11th hour.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
And this was on a night when Doncic scored 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting (5 for 10 from 3-point range) as the Lakers staved off the Brooklyn Nets, finally pulling away for a 116-99 win on Friday night, their 11th victory in 12 games.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
While other local stores struggled, Outpost weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with support from its members and staved off staff cuts, according to Margaret Mittelstadt, director of community relations and Outpost staff member since 2004.
—Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026
But the Rams staved off the running clock with reserve Jordan Houston draining a 3-point shot and another basket.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
But the penalty kill, led by goalie Matt Wright (12 saves), staved off the first to get back to one-man down, and Ryan scooped a loose puck from the neutral zone for a drive to the net.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staved off
Verb
-
Floyd, distraught by his own physical failures, is nevertheless repulsed by the sight of Carol in her big, burly ump gear.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Pheidippides, legendary Greek hēmerodromos, or courier, who is popularly believed to have run 40 km (about 25 miles) from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens in 490 bce, to report that the Athenians, in a single afternoon, had repulsed the first Persian invasion of Greece.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Trump has repeatedly said, including in a briefing immediately following the shooting, that the 20,000-square-foot addition would have prevented a would-be shooter from getting close to him.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The man reportedly told others to move out of the way just before the tree fell, which the people said likely prevented more of them from being hit.—
Kathryn Prociv,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Among the vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, several were fired upon and others turned back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Time can only be turned back so far, even here, where history abounds.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Matt Duchene tied it for Dallas on a power play midway through the third period, seconds after his backcheck on Matt Boldy averted a short-handed goal that would've put Minnesota up by two.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The school district narrowly averted 100 layoffs at the end of March, and potentially 300 more by the end of the school year, with an emergency $10 million from Gaston County commissioners March 24.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Investors have turned away from bonds in recent weeks, spooked by the specter of higher inflation from the Iran war.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson is also helping the family behind the WELLS Act, introduced in Congress last month, to prevent other women in active labor from being turned away at the hospital.—
Amy Eskind,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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They were met by police who repelled them with tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray.—
Scott Bauer,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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The Magic repelled the Pistons each time Detroit got close, like late in fourth quarter.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But critics say Sheinbaum’s government has resisted taking steps against corrupt politicians linked to the ruling party.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Residents who resisted the charms of the governor’s multimillion-dollar press team were already raising an eyebrow at the bold claims and estimates.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staved off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staved%20off. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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