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ward off
| Main Entry: |
ward/ward off
|
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | defend, guard |
| Synonyms: | avert, avoid, beat off, block, check, deflect, deter, divert, fend, foil, forestall, frustrate, halt, hold off, interrupt, keep at arm's length, keep at bay, keep off, obviate, parry, preclude, prevent, rebuff, rebut, repel, repulse, rule out, stave off, stop, stymie*, thwart, turn, turn aside, turn away |
| Antonyms: | lay bare, make vulnerable, open |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | avoid |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | refrain or stay away from; prevent |
| Synonyms: | abstain, avert, bypass, circumlocute, circumvent, deflect, desist, ditch, divert, dodge, duck, elude, escape, eschew, evade, fake out, fend off, flee, give the slip, hide, hold off, jump, keep clear, lay low, obviate, recoil, run for cover, shake, shake and bake, shake off, shirk, shrink from, shuffle off, shun, shy, sidestep, skip out on, skip town, skip*, skirt, stay away, stay out, steer clear of, step aside, turn aside, ward off, weave, withdraw |
| Notes: | avert means 'prevent, turn away' and avoid means 'stay clear of, shun' |
| Antonyms: | face, meet, seek, want |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | circumvent |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | fool, mislead |
| Synonyms: | avoid, beat, beguile, bilk, bypass, circumnavigate, cramp, crimp, deceive, detour, disappoint, dodge, dupe, elude, ensnare, entrap, escape, evade, foil, frustrate, get around, hoodwink, outflank, outwit, overreach, prevent, queer, ruin, shun, sidestep, skirt, stave off, steer clear of, stump, stymie, thwart, trick, ward off |
| Notes: | circumnavigate means to proceed completely around while circumvent means to avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing duties, questions, or issues |
| Antonyms: | aid, allow, assist, help, permit |
| Main Entry: | counter |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | answer, respond in retaliation |
| Synonyms: | backtalk, beat, bilk, buck, circumvent, contravene, counteract, counterwork, cross, dash, disappoint, fly in the face of, foil, frustrate, have bone to pick, hinder, hit back, match, meet, offset, oppose, parry, pit, play off, resist, respond, retaliate, return, ruin, take on, thumbs down, vie, ward off |
| Main Entry: | defend |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | protect |
| Synonyms: | avert, battle, beat off, bulwark, care for, cherish, conserve, contend, cover, entrench, espouse, fend off, fight, fight for, fortify, foster, garrison, guard, guard against, hedge, hold, hold at bay, house, insure, keep safe, look after, maintain, mine, nourish, oppose, panoply, preserve, prevent, provide sanctuary, repel danger, resist, retain, safeguard, save, screen, secure, shelter, shield, stave off, sustain, take in, uphold, war, ward off, watch, watch over, withstand |
| Antonyms: | abandon, attack, desert, leave, quit, relinquish, resign, surrender |
| Main Entry: | exclude |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | expel, forbid |
| Synonyms: | ban, bar, bate, blackball, blacklist, block, bounce, boycott, close out, count out, debar, disallow, drive out, eject, eliminate, embargo, estop, evict, except, force out, get rid of, ignore, interdict, keep out, leave out, lock out, obviate, occlude, omit, ostracize, oust, pass over, preclude, prevent, prohibit, proscribe, put out, refuse, refuse admittance, reject, remove, repudiate, rule out, set aside, shut out, shut the door on, sideline, suspend, throw out, veto, ward off |
| Antonyms: | accept, add, admit, allow, include, incorporate, take on, welcome |
| Main Entry: | fend off |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep at bay |
| Synonyms: | avert, avoid, beat off, deflect, drive back, hold at bay, keep at a distance, keep at arm's length, keep off, parry, rebuff, rebuke, rebut, refuse, reject, repel, repulse, resist, snub, spurn, stave off, turn aside, ward off |
| Antonyms: | let in |
| Main Entry: | fight back/fight off |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | defend oneself |
| Synonyms: | beat off, bottle up, check, contain, control, curb, fend off, hold at bay, hold back, keep at bay, oppose, put up fight, repel, reply, repress, repulse, resist, restrain, retaliate, stave off, ward off |
| Antonyms: | give in, give up, surrender, yield |
| Main Entry: | prevent |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep from happening or continuing |
| Synonyms: | anticipate, arrest, avert, avoid, baffle, balk, bar, block, check, chill*, cool, cork, counter, counteract, dam, debar, defend against, foil, forbid, forestall, forfend, frustrate, halt, hamper, head off, hinder, hold back, hold off, impede, inhibit, intercept, interdict, interrupt, keep lid on, limit, nip in the bud, obstruct, obviate, preclude, prohibit, put a stop to, put an end to, repress, restrain, restrict, retard, rule out, shut out, stave off, stop, thwart, turn aside, ward off |
| Antonyms: | aid, allow, assist, cause, help, let go |
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
