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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of staved off
Curl’s interception staved off a threat, sending the crowd into silence.
—
Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Beverly’s defense had no answer for Vella, and classmate Jimmy Farrell staved off a mid-week sickness to deliver a clinic on his home floor with an immaculate midrange shooting.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
The longer the inevitable was staved off, the harsher the eventual adjustment.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
For years, the county's transit system has been hurtling toward a fiscal cliff, staved off by federal pandemic aid and an increase in tax levy support.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
However, after another bargaining session, the parties agreed Saturday on a new tentative contract and staved off a strike of over 4,000 workers.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Talking with a media scrum after his team staved off a relentless Crimsons team, the veteran head coach was happy after getting beat by Manual the past two seasons.
—Rich Barak, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Oct. 2025
Varland would later give up the go-ahead home run to second baseman Jazz Chisholm, and the Yankees staved off elimination with a dramatic come-from-behind win.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Infielder Miguel Rojas broke into a full sprint and dove to get the third out at third base, giving Snell a sixth scoreless inning and maintaining the stalemate while the Dodgers staved off having to go to the bullpen.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
Beverly’s defense had no answer for Vella, and classmate Jimmy Farrell staved off a mid-week sickness to deliver a clinic on his home floor with an immaculate midrange shooting.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2026
The longer the inevitable was staved off, the harsher the eventual adjustment.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
For years, the county's transit system has been hurtling toward a fiscal cliff, staved off by federal pandemic aid and an increase in tax levy support.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025
However, after another bargaining session, the parties agreed Saturday on a new tentative contract and staved off a strike of over 4,000 workers.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Talking with a media scrum after his team staved off a relentless Crimsons team, the veteran head coach was happy after getting beat by Manual the past two seasons.
—Rich Barak, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Oct. 2025
Varland would later give up the go-ahead home run to second baseman Jazz Chisholm, and the Yankees staved off elimination with a dramatic come-from-behind win.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Infielder Miguel Rojas broke into a full sprint and dove to get the third out at third base, giving Snell a sixth scoreless inning and maintaining the stalemate while the Dodgers staved off having to go to the bullpen.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for staved off
Verb
-
And Republicans are among those repulsed by the ongoing scandals.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
That effort quickly repulsed decent Americans.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The initial hold-up that nearly prevented a Spanish figure skater from performing his short program, set to music from the Minions soundtrack, at the 2026 Winter Olympics was a 20-second segment at the beginning of his routine.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Tyler Mahle had his first reasonably healthy season since 2022 and, despite some odd underlying metrics, prevented runs.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators went in and out of the family's home throughout the day, but Carillo said it has been turned back over to the Guthries.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Nancy Guthrie’s home has been turned back over to Guthrie’s family.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After hours of House of Commons debate, a vote was averted when the government gave in to lawmakers' anger and agreed that the Intelligence and Security Committee would decide what papers should be published, rather than a senior civil servant as Starmer had proposed.—
JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Prosecutors described the assassination attempt as a narrowly averted, while Routh suggested his actions were a peaceful protest, reported the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Witnesses reportedly told police that the 31-year-old rapper tried to enter White’s private event but started arguing with the footballer when he and his friends were turned away.—
David Matthews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Soon after allegedly being turned away at the White House, Lake also bought a condo in her native Iowa, according to MS Now, perhaps to try her luck in politics there.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Another white woman my father spoke with rejected the Manasseh Club because she was repelled by members’ fixation on light skin.—
Dorothy Roberts,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Though they’re attracted to low electrical fields emitted by smaller fish, they are repelled by the strength of the field from the device.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than mimicking human movement for its own sake, Atlas prioritizes efficiency, balance, and perception, aiming to solve industrial tasks that have historically resisted automation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Jes Staley, a high-ranking executive who was Epstein’s primary contact, was among those who resisted cutting ties.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Staved off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staved%20off. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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