as in prevents
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
you can often forestall skidding on the ice simply by driving more slowly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forestalls
Verb
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Gender distress plays a more pronounced role in the film later on, as two crucial scenes frame it as the insurmountable obstacle that prevents the entity’s targets from returning to a version of their previous lives.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026 -
This natural state of paralysis prevents the body from physically acting out dreams, which could otherwise lead to injury, Drerup explained.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Verb
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For now and unless Williams changes his mind again, the move averts a potential historic litigation where Washington planned to sue Williams over his plan to switch schools.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Corps project averts potential catastrophic flooding that could lay siege to about 475,000 residents, California and the nation, according to the government’s court documents.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Forestalls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forestalls. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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