Meaning & use
obviate
To remove a difficulty or need in advance, making an action unnecessary.
See it in a sentence
Installing a backup generator obviated the need to worry about power outages.
Clear instructions from the start obviated most of the confusion during setup.
A note on using this word
Obviate is a formal verb, mainly used in writing about problems that are avoided before they arise.
Words with a similar meaning
precludeeliminate
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
necessitaterequire
Make it your own
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