PREVENT Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'prevent' differ from other similar words?

The words anticipate and forestall are common synonyms of prevent . While all three words mean "to deal with beforehand," prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable. // measures taken to prevent leaks

Q: When can 'anticipate' be used instead of 'prevent'?

The synonyms anticipate and prevent are sometimes interchangeable, but anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first. // anticipated the question by making a statement

Q: When is 'forestall' a more appropriate choice than 'prevent'?

The words forestall and prevent can be used in similar contexts, but forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course. // hoped to forestall the sale

prevent

verb

pri-ˈvent

Definition of prevent

as in to avert

to keep from happening by taking action in advance a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb prevent differ from other similar words?

The words anticipate and forestall are common synonyms of prevent. While all three words mean "to deal with beforehand," prevent implies taking advance measures against something possible or probable.

measures taken to prevent leaks

When can anticipate be used instead of prevent?

The synonyms anticipate and prevent are sometimes interchangeable, but anticipate may imply merely getting ahead of another by being a precursor or forerunner or it may imply checking another's intention by acting first.

anticipated the question by making a statement

When is forestall a more appropriate choice than prevent?

The words forestall and prevent can be used in similar contexts, but forestall implies a getting ahead so as to stop or interrupt something in its course.

hoped to forestall the sale

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of prevent The department will also formalize its practice of informing state officials when an officer retires while disciplinary charges are still pending, in order to prevent them from being hired at another policing agency. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 However, having a fake lower handicap which most tournaments only take 85% to prevent sandbaggers will hurt a delusional golfer in the end. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 There’s no magic food that prevents or treats the changes that come with menopause. — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 12 Oct. 2026 All need to figure ways to get the ball to their star athletes on offense and prevent big plays on defense. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prevent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevent

Verb

While people in Israel are praising the passengers and the captain as heroes for averting disaster, a broader debate is emerging over government failures that allowed something like this to happen, Lonsdorf says.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Each time the door shut behind the man, Shawn had the feeling that some danger had been temporarily dodged, some crisis averted until the next day.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of avert

Verb

The district attorney's office argued Mangione's August admission in federal court is insufficient to preclude a state trial because stalking and murder are two different crimes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Fincher informed him that his Netflix deal precluded him from returning to the director’s chair.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of preclude

Verb

Rates actually continued to increase after the Society of Surgical Oncology adopted the guidelines in 2016, even though patients who received the biopsy were not more likely to survive or avoid recurrence.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Clapp said the firm focuses on avoiding highly leveraged companies and floating-rate debt, instead favoring investments with dependable cash flows to support clients over the long term.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoid

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prevent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevent. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of prevent

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes