forestall
Stop before starting
Forestall means to prevent or hinder by acting in advance.
You forestall criticism by addressing objections before they're raised.
You forestall disaster by taking precautions.
The word implies getting ahead of something to block or neutralize it: She forestalled his complaints by apologizing first.
To forestall is to act preemptively, cutting off a problem before it fully develops.
Prevent or deflect
- preemptAct to prevent
- precludeMake impossible in advance
- thwartPrevent success of
- blockSolid mass, or impede
stop · ward off · stave off · head off · intercept · deter · halt · obviate
Predict future events
- predictDeclare future outcomes
- expectConsider likely to occur
- envisionPicture in thought
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
project · prognosticate · presage · foreshadow · anticipation · divine · augur · surmise
Defense against a threat
- preemptive strikeAttack to forestall aggression
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
positioning · initiative · diplomacy · negotiation · contingency · proactive · defensive · calculated
avert
Prevent or deflect
block · stop · ward off · stave off · head off · intercept · deter · halt · obviate · nip in the bud
foresee
Predict future events
forecast · project · prognosticate · presage · foreshadow · anticipation · divine · augur · surmise · infer
countermeasure
Defense against a threat
- preemptive strikeAttack to forestall aggression
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
tactics · positioning · initiative · diplomacy · negotiation · contingency · proactive · defensive · calculated · outmaneuver
- preemptive actionspreemptive strike, preventive measure, first strike, early action, anticipate
- interveneintervene, step in, intercede, mediate, arbitrate