Meaning & use
ward off
To prevent something harmful, such as an illness, attack, or danger, from affecting someone.
See it in a sentence
She took vitamin C every morning to ward off the seasonal cold.
The villagers lit fires at night to ward off wild animals.
A note on using this word
Ward off is always followed by an object describing the danger being prevented, such as ward off an attack or ward off illness.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
inviteattract
Make it your own
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