staved off
Held at bay
To stave off is to prevent or delay something unwanted—to hold it at bay: She staved off hunger with a handful of nuts, The company staved off bankruptcy by securing new investors.
The image is of using a stave or stick to fend something off.
Past tense is staved off or stove off.
- avertedPrevented from occurring
- preventedStopped before occurrence
- forestalledPrevented through early action
- precludedPrevented in advance
- thwartedPrevented from succeeding
nipped in the bud · obviated · deterred · postponed · repelled · resisted · fought back · avoided · defeated · block · hindered · evaded · alleviated · ward · protected · push · parry · reduced
temporary delay vs. permanent resolution
staved offeliminated
Removed from consideration
eradicated · resolved · ended · vanquished · extinguished
stave, staved, staves, staving, off, staff, staffs, staffed, staffing