/ Thesaurus / S Synonyms of stave off Find synonyms for: Verb1. debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off, prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbidusage: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike"WordNet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Related Content Daily Word Quiz: neologism Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language