as in prevented
to keep from happening by taking action in advance
her careful planning averted disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of averted
Aisha kept her eyes respectfully averted.
—
Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
But the crisis has been averted — Rebecca explains that Sarah didn't actually set the real Golden Bag on fire.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
During his first term, Trump books promised juicy revelations about behind-the-scenes conflict, offensive comments made in private, and crazy plans narrowly averted.
—Paul Farhi, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
After that, Riecken claimed that his faith had been restored; Martin, soothed, channelled a psychic message explaining how the flood had been averted.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
One study estimated that in their first year of use, Covid-19 vaccinations averted almost 20 million deaths around the world.
—Ben Tinker, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Fortunately, quick work stabilized the vessel and averted another cargo casualty.
—Colin Grabow, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
The American people averted that Democratic disaster of a ticket but Minnesota is now dealing with the incompetence and possible corruption of Walz’s administration.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
In April 2011, leaders of both parties came to an agreement following weeks of difficult negotiations and ultimately averted a government shutdown, as recapped by President Barack Obama.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for averted
prevented
Verb
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The athletes are not employees in the legal sense and therefore cannot be prevented from leaving for another university.—
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But a landmark land claims settlement in 1980 exempted Maine from federal Indian gaming laws, which has prevented the tribes from opening casinos on their lands.—
Cite this Entry
“Averted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/averted. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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