Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening.

synonyms: avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, obviate, stave off.

Roget 706: hinder, impede, filibuster [U.S.], impedite^†, embarrass.    keep off, stave off, ward off; obviate; avert, antevert^†; turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud; retard, slacken, check, let; counteract, countercheck^†; preclude, debar, foreclose, estop [Law]; inhibit etc. 761; shackle etc. (restrain) 751; restrict.    obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock; block, block up; choke off; belay, barricade; block the way, bar the way, stop the way; forelay^†; dam up etc. (close) 261; put on the brake etc. n.; scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel; put a stop to etc. 142; traverse, contravene; interrupt, intercept; oppose etc. 708; hedge in, hedge round; cut off; inerclude^†.    interpose, interfere, intermeddle etc. 682.    cramp, hamper; clog, clog the wheels; cumber; encumber, incumber; handicap; choke; saddle with, load with; overload, lay; lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience; incommode, discommode; discompose; hustle, corner, drive into a corner.    run foul of, fall foul of; cross the path of, break in upon.    thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil; faze, feaze^†, feeze [U.S.]; baffle, snub, override, circumvent; defeat etc. 731; spike guns etc. (render useless) 645; spoil, mar, clip the wings of; cripple etc. (injure) 659; put an extinguisher on; damp; dishearten etc. (dissuade) 616; discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport; lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on; cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine; be in the way of, stand in the way of; act as a drag; hang like a millstone round one's neck.    ... show more

Roget 717: defend, forfend, fend; shield, screen, shroud; engarrison^†; fend round etc. (circumscribe) 229; fence, entrench, intrench^†; guard etc. (keep safe) 664; guard against; take care of etc. (vigilance) 459; bear harmless; fend off, keep off, ward off, beat off, beat back; hinder etc. 706.    parry, repel, propugn^†, put to flight; give a warm reception to [Iron.]; hold at bay, keep at bay, keep arm's length.    stand on the defensive, act on the defensive; show fight; maintain one's ground, stand one's ground; stand by; hold one's own; bear the brunt, stand the brunt; fall back upon, hold, stand in the gap.    ... show more

Dutch: afwenden, afweren, bewaren, overbodig, verhoeden, verijdelen, vermijden, voorkomen

Avert, turn away, or repel.

Dutch: afweren, ontwijken