Meaning & use
stave off
To ward off, delay, or prevent something undesirable, at least temporarily.
See it in a sentence
Eating a small snack helped stave off her hunger until dinner was ready.
The company cut costs to stave off bankruptcy for another year.
A note on using this word
Stave off suggests a temporary defense rather than a permanent solution; the problem is delayed, not eliminated.
Words with a similar meaning
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