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
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Recent Examples of staving off
Now that the euphoria of David Pastrnak’s overtime game-winner has now subsided, the Bruins get back to the business of staving off elimination at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres in Friday’s Game 6 at the Garden.
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The link between flossing and disease prevention On top of staving off periodontal disease, research shows that regular flossing is associated with reduced risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.
—Michele Ross, SELF, 22 Apr. 2026
Kansas City voters overwhelmingly renewed the city’s 1% earnings tax on Tuesday, maintaining a critical funding source for city services and unmistakably staving off concerns that the city’s budget could be thrown into disarray.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Its duration favors the studios by staving off another renegotiation and potential work stoppage until 2030.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Maintaining ties with Tehran is crucial for containing domestic tensions and staving off an insurgency from the minority Baloch community there.
—Kyra Colah, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
To his credit, Onana remained at the heart of the battle and was evidently key to Villa staving off Bournemouth’s set-play threat.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Gibney illustrates that state of waiting, of staving off what at that time appears to be the inevitable, with the famous sequence from Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, in which Max von Sydow’s medieval knight plays chess with Death on a desolate beach.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
The original language of the Clean Water Act – which is widely credited with staving off and, in some cases, reversing water pollution for more than a half-century – explicitly mentions environmental and human health, yet says nothing about economic prosperity.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The link between flossing and disease prevention On top of staving off periodontal disease, research shows that regular flossing is associated with reduced risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke.
—Michele Ross, SELF, 22 Apr. 2026
Kansas City voters overwhelmingly renewed the city’s 1% earnings tax on Tuesday, maintaining a critical funding source for city services and unmistakably staving off concerns that the city’s budget could be thrown into disarray.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Its duration favors the studios by staving off another renegotiation and potential work stoppage until 2030.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Maintaining ties with Tehran is crucial for containing domestic tensions and staving off an insurgency from the minority Baloch community there.
—Kyra Colah, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
To his credit, Onana remained at the heart of the battle and was evidently key to Villa staving off Bournemouth’s set-play threat.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Gibney illustrates that state of waiting, of staving off what at that time appears to be the inevitable, with the famous sequence from Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, in which Max von Sydow’s medieval knight plays chess with Death on a desolate beach.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
The original language of the Clean Water Act – which is widely credited with staving off and, in some cases, reversing water pollution for more than a half-century – explicitly mentions environmental and human health, yet says nothing about economic prosperity.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staving off
Verb
-
Chubb said the majority of investors will keep turning back to what has been the driver of the bull run since late 2022.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Trains are turning back at Pearl/Arts District, Deep Ellum, Victory and EBJ Union stations.—
CBS Texas Staff,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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There has been some press of late suggesting that studios are turning away from A-list festivals.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
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Whether this is a PR play or a first attempt at re-engaging with retailers after turning away from them five years ago remains to be seen.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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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Tristan Jarry got his first start of the series, repelling 34 pucks.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Root-knot nematodes are one of the biggest pest problems for eggplants, and marigolds' strong smell is excellent for repelling nematodes.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a group photo from Sunday, April 19, the teens stood between their parents before heading off to prom, both dressed to impress for the night out.—
Georgia Slater,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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The moody space feels well-suited for a nightcap before heading off to bed.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Miami-Dade prosecutors dismissed two stalking and resisting arrest charges against Hollis on Thursday.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
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Nine teens, ages 13 to 16 were arrested, some of them on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Staving off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staving%20off. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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