WordWeb Online

1. Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off
   "ward off a strike";
   - debar, forefend, forfend, 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