obviating

verb

present participle of obviate
as in preventing
to keep from happening by taking action in advance brushing regularly should obviate the need for frequent trips to the dentist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obviating Most offer a variety of dining options, obviating the need to make restaurant reservations or arrange local transportation. — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 By that time, Brendan Carr will likely be last year’s model, obviating the need for any Carr insurance, as he is joined in retirement by Lina Khan on the far left. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 30 June 2026 While there are no modular reactors up and running yet in the United States, Albrecht said some of those in the design phase will use molten salt, helium or liquid metal to help cool the fission process, obviating the need for large amounts of water. — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 7 May 2026 New designs and operating methods are also obviating the noise that older-style centers once created. — Mehdi Paryavi, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026 The area vacated by that project — more than 30 acres — is large enough to build a new arena, obviating the need to tear down City Hall for that purpose. — Mark Lamster architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026 Dan Lawrence’s son, Luke, piloting Ariel, which once belonged to the Roosevelts’ neighbor Archie Rogers, took the first heat, and then the second, obviating the need for a third. — Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026 Even the hefty, vintage camcorder Matthew totes around to film his documentary drops us directly into his leering point of view, crash zooming in on Oliver’s face and obviating boundaries. — Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025 Often, the liquid gets poured right to the brim, obviating any attempt at swirling and sniffing. — Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obviating
  1. preventing
  2. averting
  3. precluding
  4. avoiding
Verb
  • Riyadh said the discussions were aimed at keeping diplomatic channels open and preventing another escalation in hostilities.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Events unfold over one evening as a hurricane rolls in, blocking communication from the outside world and preventing reinforcements from arriving.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of preventing
Verb
  • While people in Israel are praising the passengers and the captain as heroes for averting disaster, a broader debate is emerging over government failures that allowed something like this to happen, Lonsdorf says.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot hailed for averting a catastrophe on a FlyDubai flight, described Spice Jet incorrectly.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of averting
Verb
  • State attorneys argued Tuesday that the federal government has no authority over California elections and seeks to violate federal law precluding voter roll purges in the 90 days before an election.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Califia has previously been detained for drug possession but was also released before her arraignment, precluding the possibility of diversion court.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of precluding
Verb
  • Kushner so far has participated little in the ceremony of the job, avoiding most receptions and ribbon cuttings.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Exercise, avoiding alcohol or even getting enough sleep aren’t the factors most connected to college students’ well-being.
    — Roxanne Prichard, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of avoiding

Browse Nearby Words

obviates
obviating
obviation
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Cite this Entry

“Obviating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obviating. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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