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prevent - stop (someone or something) from doing something or being in a certain state; "We must prevent the cancer from spreading"; "His snoring kept me from falling asleep"; "Keep the child from eating the marbles" |
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keep |
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permit,
let,
allow consent to, give permission; "She permitted her son to visit her estranged husband"; "I won't let the police search her basement"; "I cannot allow you to see your exam"
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defend argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike"
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shut out,
keep out,
shut,
exclude remain outside
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hold keep from exhaling or expelling; "hold your breath"
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keep away prevent from coming close; "I tried to keep the child away from the pool"
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blank keep the opposing (baseball) team from winning
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impede,
hinder be a hindrance or obstacle to; "She is impeding the progress of our project"
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rain out,
wash out prevent or interrupt due to rain; "The storm had washed out the game"
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2. |
prevent - keep from happening or arising; make impossible; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project" |
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forestall,
foreclose,
preclude,
forbid |
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make unnecessary,
save make unnecessary an expenditure or effort; "This will save money"; "I'll save you the trouble"; "This will save you a lot of time"
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forefend,
stave off,
head off,
fend off,
forfend,
obviate,
avert,
ward off,
debar,
deflect,
avoid do away with
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stymie,
stymy,
embarrass,
hinder,
obstruct,
blockade,
block cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
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thwart,
frustrate,
queer,
scotch,
baffle,
foil,
bilk,
cross,
spoil hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent"
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kibosh,
halt,
stop,
block cause to stop; "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
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