English verb: obviate | |||
1. | obviate (stative) do away with | ||
Synonyms | eliminate, rid of | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | close out, preclude, rule out | ||
Antonyms | necessitate, need, require, call for, demand, postulate, involve, ask, take | ||
2. | obviate (social) prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening | ||
Samples | Let's avoid a confrontation. Head off a confrontation. Avert a strike. | ||
Synonyms | avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, stave off, ward off | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | forbid, foreclose, forestall, preclude, prevent | ||