stave

[steyv] / steɪv /

VERB

prevent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anticipate avert avoid counteract foil forestall halt hold off preclude put an end to rule out thwart ward off

STRONG

arrest baffle balk bar block check chill cool cork counter dam debar forbid forfend frustrate hamper hinder impede inhibit intercept interdict interrupt limit obstruct obviate prohibit repress restrain restrict retard stop ward

WEAK

defend against head off hold back keep lid on nip in the bud put a stop to shut out stave off turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid assist forward help support

STRONG

abet advance allow approve continue encourage expedite facilitate free heat let go liberate open permit promote push release unblock warm

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Game 4 is Monday night here in Los Angeles, a night the Lakers will try to stave off elimination and a night that will determine how the conversations will go with James if they lose.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

They found that isolation measures helped stave off a wider outbreak -- and that the majority of human-to-human transmissions occurred on the very first day the infected person had a fever.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

More families are installing home phones to stave off smartphone use.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

American families are leaning in to the low-tech life for their kids, installing home phones to stave off smartphone use.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

At least that’s what I kept telling myself, in a vain attempt to stave off the epic loneliness I now felt.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Vocabulary lists containing stave

This Week In Words: August 17–23, 2019

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Music - Middle School

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"The Tragedy of Macbeth," Vocabulary from Act 5

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