Synonyms for prevent
prɪˈvɛntpre·vent

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.8 / 6 votes

1. prevent

   The original sense of prevent, to come before, act in advance of, which is now practically obsolete, was still in good use when the authorized version of the Bible was made, as appears in such passages as, "When Peter was come into the house, Jesus prevented him" (i. e., addressed him first), Matt. xvii, 25; "Thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness" (i. e., by sending the blessings before the desire is formulated or expressed), Ps. xxi, 3. Anticipate is now the only single word usable in this sense; to forestall is to take or act in advance in one's own behalf and to the prejudice of another or others, as in the phrase "to forestall the market." But to anticipate is very frequently used in the favorable sense; as, his thoughtful kindness anticipated my wish (i. e., met the wish before it was expressed): or we say, "I was about to accost him when he anticipated me" (by speaking first); or one anticipates a payment (by making it before the time); in neither of these cases could we use forestall or prevent. To obviate (literally, to stop the way of or remove from the way), is to prevent by interception, so that something that would naturally withstand or disturb may be kept from doing so; to preclude, (literally, to close or shut in advance) is to prevent by anticipation or by logical necessity; walls and bars precluded the possibility of escape; a supposition is precluded; a necessity or difficulty is obviated. Prevent, which at first had only the anticipatory meaning, has come to apply to the stopping of an action at any stage, the completion or conclusion only being thought of as negatived by anticipation; the enemy passed the outworks and were barely prevented from capturing the fortress. Compare HINDER; PROHIBIT.

   Synonyms:
   anticipate, forestall, obviate, preclude

   Preposition:
   He was prevented by illness from joining the expedition.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. prevent

   Synonyms:
   hinder, obstruct, bar, neutralize, nullify, thwart, intercept, anticipate, forefend, frustrate, obviate, checkmate

   Antonyms:
   promote, aid, facilitate, expedite, encourage, advance, accelerate, induce, cause, produce

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 3 votes

1. prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbidverb

   keep from happening or arising; make impossible

   "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project"

   Synonyms:
   proscribe, rule out, counter, interdict, keep, veto, preclude, forestall, prohibit, foreclose, forbid, nix, anticipate, foresee, close out, disallow

   Antonyms:
   allow, permit, let

2. prevent, keepverb

   stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state

   "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles"

   Synonyms:
   go along, keep on, celebrate, forestall, go on, keep, restrain, hold back, save, hold, hold on, foreclose, retain, forbid, keep back, proceed, maintain, keep open, observe, hold open, preserve, sustain, continue, stay fresh, preclude

   Antonyms:
   permit, let, allow

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. choke (verb)

   stop growth

   plants can be choked by grass, and grass can be choked off by weeds

   Submitted by erhnice on July 28, 2019  

2. choke back (verb)

   fail to control one’s emotions

   they choked back tears (feelings; anger; disappointment, etc.)

   Submitted by erhnice on July 28, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. preventverb

   Synonyms:
   obstruct, HINDER, stop, impede, thwart, intercept, interrupt, obviate, preclude, frustrate, forefend, avert

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. preventverb

   Synonyms:
   thwart, hinder, obstruct, preclude, obviate, forestall, intercept, avert, parry, deter, frustrate

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "prevent":

   preventing, avoid, prevention, avert, preclude, impede, forestall, stop, deter, avoiding, hinder, warn, prevented, prevents, preventive, impeding, prohibit, pre-empt, inhibit, hamper, block, obstruct, avoidance, keep, avoided, discourage, deny, combat

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How to use prevent in a sentence?

1. Harry Reid:

   We can do something about this sad, violent reality, we can expand gun background checks and prevent the mentally ill and criminal from buying guns. Is that asking too much? The people support it. It has bipartisan support. We should act to save lives by expanding background checks.

2. Mohammad Javad Zarif:

   You cannot tell (Syrians) that this person should not be a part of your future, the other person should not be a part of your future, this will prevent a negotiation from taking place.

3. Barbara Mulvaney:

   What actions are currently under way to prevent these actions now?

4. Cory Gardner:

   Now is the time to have a discussion about what we can do to break down the barriers that prevent help going to people who need it – whether that’s a substance abuse issue or whether that’s a mental health concern.

5. Nicanor Cuevas:

   We installed two fences around the property, an electrical fence to prevent unauthorized access and there will be guards from a private security company watching the field 24/7.