stave off
Keep at bay
To stave off is to hold something undesirable at bay, to prevent or delay it from arriving: She ate a banana to stave off hunger, They took out loans to stave off bankruptcy.
The image is of fending something off with a stick or staff—keeping danger at arm's length rather than eliminating it entirely.
avert
Prevent or deflect
preclude · avoid · deter · repel · deflect · keep away · hold back · rebuff · parry · counter
postpone
Delay to later time
extend · protract · suspend · respite · reprieve · moratorium · forestall · keep at bay · push back · stretch out
stave offallow
Grant permission for
let in · permit · accept · give in to · embrace
stave offhasten
To accelerate or rush
accelerate · expedite · speed up · bring forward · advance
off, staff, staffed, staffs, staffing, stave, staves, staved, staves off