1.
Turn aside, parry, as in He tried to ward off her blows. [Second half of 1500s]
2.
Try to prevent, avert, as in She took vitamin C to ward off a cold. [Mid-1700s]
ward off
| Idioms: ward off |
| WordNet: ward off |
Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
The verb has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1:
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
Synonyms: debar, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid
Meaning #2:
avert, turn away, or repel
Learn More
 | avert |
| parry |
| apotropaic (in archaeology) |
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| What wards off vampires? Read answer... |
Help us answer these
 | What does a skunk do to ward off predators? |
| The ability to ward off disease? |
| Do plants ward off sickness? |
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Copyrights:
 |
 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more |
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Mentioned in
- avert
- parry
- apotropaic (in archaeology)
- Cluster Headache: Prevention
- shield (in archaeology)
- amulet (in archaeology)
- copóg Phádraig
- forfend
- straight-arm
- witch door
- hex sign
- moly
- self-defeating
- People Pill (finance term)
