Verb ward off has 2 senses
- debar, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off - prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike"
--1 is one way to prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
- ward off - avert, turn away, or repel; "Ward off danger"
--2 is one way to defend
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
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