as in to avert
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevent
Fortunately, there are treatments to help manage your symptoms, slow disease progression, and prevent organ damage.
—
Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Mar. 2025
Join 5 others in the comments View Comments Rocket safety systems typically include software designed to blow up a malfunctioning vehicle to prevent large, damaging pieces of debris from reaching the ground.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
An understandable apprehension given that diplomacy was tried countless times to prevent Putin from invading.
—Rafael Perez, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
In removing Inspector Generals - the government watchdogs charged with combatting federal department abuse - legitimate questions and widespread legal action are already in play to prevent infringements on everything from the Constitution to data legislation.
—Lauren Coulman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Mar. 2025
Join 5 others in the comments View Comments Rocket safety systems typically include software designed to blow up a malfunctioning vehicle to prevent large, damaging pieces of debris from reaching the ground.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
An understandable apprehension given that diplomacy was tried countless times to prevent Putin from invading.
—Rafael Perez, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
In removing Inspector Generals - the government watchdogs charged with combatting federal department abuse - legitimate questions and widespread legal action are already in play to prevent infringements on everything from the Constitution to data legislation.
—Lauren Coulman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent
Verb
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But two Mickeys will come in handy when Marshall engages in authoritarian military cosplay, an act of cruelty pits the colonists against the aliens, and mutually assured destruction needs to be averted unless 17 can broker a detente.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2025
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Now, scientists say that scenario has potentially been averted, and A23a might even be beneficial to the local wildlife.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The European approach to trade not only precludes the CFTPP’s benefits, its notorious economic inefficiency further retards economic growth.—
Alden Abbott,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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Acquiring a defensive end — free agency is more likely than a trade — wouldn’t preclude Ryan Poles from drafting an edge rusher at No. 10.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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To avoid this scenario, Silva-Nash simply recommends using an appropriate floor cleaner, rather than wax.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
2 Mar. 2025
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Thirty narrow stairs lead to City Ballet’s bright, top floor rehearsal studio, with double ballet barres lining three walls, a floor-to-ceiling mirror, and an open ceiling with a treacherously low center beam that high jumping dancers have learned to avoid.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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