as in stopped
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as in averted
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prevented
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
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.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
The Eagles missed 13 free throws, which prevented any comeback.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
But, overall, guards have rarely prevented perimeter attacks and the frontcourt has failed to protect the rim.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Some economists say low supply has prevented a sharp rise in the unemployment rate.
—Reuters
wire Service, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
It’s been almost five years since the blaze ripped through Sierra-at-Tahoe and prevented the subsequent ski season, save for an anniversary weekend ski party in April 2022.
—Mark Billingsley, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Whitney Houston broke down the stylistic barrier that existed before that might have prevented Diana Ross from getting in the past.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026
Following the death of company principal James Crockarell in January 2024, Madison put most of its downtown portfolio up for sale, though that hasn’t prevented many of its buildings from falling into foreclosure and being sold off by major lenders.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
The athletes are not employees in the legal sense and therefore cannot be prevented from leaving for another university.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevented
Adjective
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That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Verb
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Aisha kept her eyes respectfully averted.—
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But the crisis has been averted — Rebecca explains that Sarah didn't actually set the real Golden Bag on fire.—
Adjective
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Over the ensuing decades—and fully informed of the substantial executive power exercised by the Commission—the Supreme Court has repeatedly and expressly left Humphrey's Executor in place, and so precluded Presidents from removing Commissioners at will.—
Adjective
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In The Way to Colonos, the horror that emerges is more suppressed and internal than in the ancient texts.—
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Too long submerged in suppressed grief, Zilpha now came up from its depth like any swimmer stroking toward light and sweet air.—
Cite this Entry
“Prevented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevented. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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