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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Recent Examples of prevent
Republicans also defeated several amendments preventing tax breaks for the wealthy, part of a Democratic strategy to paint the GOP as too cozy with billionaires.
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David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025
The proposals were aimed at protecting government employees’ ability to collectively bargain amid attacks by the Trump administration, preventing cuts to food stamps and to show support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ukraine, respectively.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Apr. 2025
Tretinoin kicks cellular turnover into high gear, sloughing away dead skin and revealing the fresh, healthy skin below, while helping prevent clogged pores and breakouts and fading discoloration and uneven texture like fine lines.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2025
The American Lung Association works to save lives by improving lung health and using advocacy, research and education to prevent lung disease.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevent
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025
The proposals were aimed at protecting government employees’ ability to collectively bargain amid attacks by the Trump administration, preventing cuts to food stamps and to show support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Ukraine, respectively.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 5 Apr. 2025
Tretinoin kicks cellular turnover into high gear, sloughing away dead skin and revealing the fresh, healthy skin below, while helping prevent clogged pores and breakouts and fading discoloration and uneven texture like fine lines.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2025
The American Lung Association works to save lives by improving lung health and using advocacy, research and education to prevent lung disease.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prevent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent
Verb
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How Investigative Journalists Actually Find Fraud, Waste and Abuse The evidence is similarly clear on Trump’s argument that continued reliance on tariffs to fund the government would have averted the Great Depression.—
Jesse Eisinger,
ProPublica,
8 Apr. 2025
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The United States and Iran are preparing for talks on Tehran's nuclear program in Oman to avert a possible military confrontation that could have devastating consequences far beyond the Middle East.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Once the strike began, the waiver was rescinded, precluding her from performing writing services for a non-signatory.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2025
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But that shouldn’t preclude them from drafting a safety at some point.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Facing the Marlins for the second time in a week, the Mets (7-3) avoided facing ace Sandy Alcantara, with the 2022 Cy Young Award winner having been added to the paternity list earlier in the day.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
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In another legend, the monk was said to have cut off his eyelids to avoid falling asleep during his meditation, one explanation for the doll’s wide-eyed stare.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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