ward off
phrasal verb
warded off; warding off; wards off
: to avoid being hit by (something)
ward off a blow
—often used figurativelyI tried different remedies to ward off a cold.
Examples of ward off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For others, eating human flesh symbolized good harvests, health and warding off bad omens and misfortune.
—
Avya Chaudhary, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2024
Mainstream conservative parties across the 27-nation European Union, which are the European equivalent of America’s pre-Donald Trump Republicans, have increasingly been seeking to ward off the decline in their own support by tacking toward the policy agenda of the far right.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2024
In November 2023, Atlas Capital Investments, the group that had owned the building before losing it through foreclosure, filed for bankruptcy to ward off or delay the property seizure.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
In settling the case, the N.C.A.A. sought to avoid a catastrophic judgment and ward off the steady drumbeat of antitrust lawsuits that have hampered the organization’s ability to make even the most basic of rules.
—Billy Witz, New York Times, 24 May 2024
Stimulus introduced to ward off the effects of lockdowns was followed by Joe Biden’s mammoth inflation reduction act (IRA), pushing public debt to 121% of GDP.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 May 2024
Rookie defender Hanna Lundkvist couldn’t ward off a Bay FC forward near the goal mouth, resulting in an own-goal.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2024
Knee-high, eroded Jizo statues that resembled children — often cloaked in red bibs — peppered the trail to ward off evil and safeguard wayfarers like me.
—Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024
Chili peppers were used to treat illness in the Maya world and may have been placed at the site to ward off disease.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024
Avya Chaudhary, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2024
Mainstream conservative parties across the 27-nation European Union, which are the European equivalent of America’s pre-Donald Trump Republicans, have increasingly been seeking to ward off the decline in their own support by tacking toward the policy agenda of the far right.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2024
In November 2023, Atlas Capital Investments, the group that had owned the building before losing it through foreclosure, filed for bankruptcy to ward off or delay the property seizure.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024
In settling the case, the N.C.A.A. sought to avoid a catastrophic judgment and ward off the steady drumbeat of antitrust lawsuits that have hampered the organization’s ability to make even the most basic of rules.
—Billy Witz, New York Times, 24 May 2024
Stimulus introduced to ward off the effects of lockdowns was followed by Joe Biden’s mammoth inflation reduction act (IRA), pushing public debt to 121% of GDP.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 May 2024
Rookie defender Hanna Lundkvist couldn’t ward off a Bay FC forward near the goal mouth, resulting in an own-goal.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2024
Knee-high, eroded Jizo statues that resembled children — often cloaked in red bibs — peppered the trail to ward off evil and safeguard wayfarers like me.
—Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024
Chili peppers were used to treat illness in the Maya world and may have been placed at the site to ward off disease.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ward off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ward off
Cite this Entry
“Ward off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ward%20off. Accessed 11 Jun. 2024.
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