| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep from happening |
| Synonyms: | anticipate, avert, delay, deter, hinder, monopolize, preclude, preoccupy, prevent, thwart |
| Main Entry: | avert |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart; avoid by turning away |
| Synonyms: | avoid, deflect, deter, divert, fend off, foil, forestall, frustrate, halt, look away, preclude, prevent, rule out, shove aside, shunt, stave off, turn, turn aside, turn away, ward off |
| Notes: | avert means 'prevent, turn away' and avoid means 'stay clear of, shun' overt means apparent or open to view or plain or public; avert means to prevent or turn away |
| Antonyms: | aid, help |
| Main Entry: | balk |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart |
| Synonyms: | baffle, bar, beat, check, circumvent, counteract, cramp, cramp one's style, dash, defeat, disappoint, disconcert, foil, forestall, frustrate, hinder, obstruct, prevent, ruin, stall, stop, throw a curve, throw monkey wrench in, upset the apple cart |
| Antonyms: | aid, help, make easier |
| Main Entry: | deter |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | check, inhibit from action |
| Synonyms: | act like a wet blanket, avert, block, caution, chill, cool, damp, dampen, daunt, debar, disadvise, discourage, dissuade, divert, forestall, forfend, frighten, hinder, impede, intimidate, obstruct, obviate, preclude, prevent, prohibit, put a damper on, put off, restrain, rule out, scare, shut out, stave off, stop, talk out of, throw cold water on, turn off, warn |
| Antonyms: | encourage, instigate, persuade, promote, put on to, stimulate, support, turn on, urge |
| Main Entry: | forbid |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | outlaw, prohibit an action |
| Synonyms: | ban, block, cancel, censor, check, debar, declare illegal, deny, deprive, disallow, embargo, enjoin, exclude, forestall, forfend, freeze*, halt, hinder, hold up, impede, inhibit, interdict, lock up, nix, obstruct, obviate, oppose, preclude, prevent, proscribe, put the chill on, restrain, restrict, rule out, say no, shut down, shut out, spike*, stop, stymie*, taboo*, veto, withhold |
| Antonyms: | allow, approve, authorize, permit, sanction |
| Main Entry: | frustrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | thwart, disappoint |
| Synonyms: | annul, arrest, baffle, balk, bar, beat, block, cancel, check, circumvent, confront, conquer, counter, counteract, cramp, cramp one's style, crimp, dash, dash one's hope, defeat, depress, discourage, dishearten, foil, forbid, forestall, foul up, give the run around, halt, hang up, hinder, hold up, impede, inhibit, lick, negate, neutralize, nullify, obstruct, obviate, outwit, overcome, preclude, prevent, prohibit, render null and void, ruin, stump, stymie*, upset the applecart |
| Antonyms: | aid, assist, cooperate, encourage, facilitate, help, support |
| Main Entry: | obviate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make unnecessary |
| Synonyms: | anticipate, avert, block, counter, counteract, deter, do away with, forestall, forfend, hinder, interfere, interpose, intervene, preclude, prevent, remove, restrain, rule out, stave off, ward |
| Antonyms: | allow, help, permit |
| Main Entry: | parry |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | ward off, circumvent |
| Synonyms: | anticipate, avoid, block, bypass, deflect, dodge, duck*, elude, en garde, evade, fence, fend off, forestall, hold at bay, preclude, prevent, rebuff, rebuke, repel, repulse, resist, shirk, shun, sidestep, stave off |
| Antonyms: | deal with, face, meet |
| Main Entry: | preclude |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | inhibit; make impossible |
| Synonyms: | avert, cease, check, debar, deter, discontinue, exclude, forestall, forfend, hinder, impede, interrupt, make impracticable, obviate, prevent, prohibit, put a stop to, quit, restrain, rule out, stave off, stop, ward |
| Antonyms: | allow, permit, support |