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Verb: ward off  word óf
  1. Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off
    "They managed to ward off the crisis through quick action";
    - forefend [archaic], forfend [archaic], obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid
     
  2. Avert, turn away, or repel
    "Ward off danger"

Derived forms: wards off, warded off, warding off

Type of: defend, forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent