stave off
Verb
Meaning
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Antonyms
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Examples
There can be no brotherhood when some nations indulge in previously unheard of luxuries, while others struggle to stave off famine.
If I was ever a rare fine summer person, that's long ago. Most of us are half-and-half. The August noon in us works to stave off the November chills. We survive by what little Fourth of July wits we've stashed away. But there are times when we're all autumn people.
No amount of money would stave off a nuclear warhead.
The best we can do with this flawed approach [the Iraq War surge] is to stave off defeat.
Walking is the only way proven to stave off cognitive decline - it works.
He talked and talked, the kind of talking you do to stave off the inevitable physical desire. The kind of talk that only increases it.