Synonyms of ‘Averted’: Meanings, Usage, and Mastery in English Grammar

by

2. INTRODUCTION

English is a language rich with possibilities for expression. One of the best ways to expand your vocabulary and communicate more effectively is by mastering synonyms—words with similar meanings but often subtle differences in use. The verb “averted” is especially important because it describes the action of preventing or avoiding something negative from happening. Knowing a wide range of synonyms for “averted” not only helps you avoid repetition in writing and speaking, but also allows you to convey precise shades of meaning, making your communication clearer and more sophisticated.

Whether you are an English learner aiming for fluency, a teacher building your students’ vocabulary, a writer seeking variety, or a professional needing precise language in reports or presentations, understanding synonyms for “averted” is invaluable. In academic and everyday contexts, these words help express ideas related to prevention, avoidance, and intervention.

Mastering their use will enhance your reading comprehension, improve your writing style, and give you the tools to express yourself with confidence and nuance.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1. What Does “Averted” Mean?

Dictionary definition: “Averted” (past tense of “avert”) means to prevent something bad or undesirable from happening or to turn away (one’s eyes or thoughts). In most contexts, it refers to the action of stopping a negative outcome before it occurs.

Etymology: The word “avert” comes from the Latin avertere, meaning “to turn away.” Historically, it evolved from the sense of physically turning something aside to the metaphorical meaning of preventing an event.

Base form vs. past tense: The base form is avert (present tense), and averted is the past tense and past participle. Example: “They avert danger” (present) vs. “They averted danger” (past).

3.2. Grammatical Classification of “Averted”

Part of speech: “Averted” is a verb (specifically, the past tense and past participle of “avert”). It is a regular verb: avert, averted, averting.

Transitivity: “Avert” is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. Example: She averted disaster (not *She averted).

Passive voice usage: The verb can be used in the passive voice when the focus is on the event or outcome: The crisis was averted.

3.3. Typical Usage Contexts

Academic and journalistic use: “Averted” is common in formal writing to describe the prevention of serious events: “A catastrophe was averted by quick action.”

Everyday use: It is also used in daily conversation, though often in more serious or formal contexts.

Register: “Averted” is generally neutral to formal. It appears in news reports, academic writing, official documents, and sometimes in everyday speech.

Common collocations: “Avert disaster,” “avert a crisis,” “avert conflict,” “avert tragedy,” “avert their eyes.”

3.4. Function in Sentences

Preventative action or avoidance: “Averted” emphasizes stopping something before it happens, often through deliberate intervention.

Implication of agency: The subject is usually an agent who takes action to prevent a negative outcome.

Table 1: Examples of “Averted” in Various Contexts
Context Example Sentence
Academic The new policy averted a financial crisis.
Journalistic Rapid evacuation averted a major disaster.
Everyday Conversation She averted an argument by changing the subject.
Passive Voice Injury was averted thanks to protective gear.
Literal Turning Away He averted his eyes from the scene.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1. Sentence Patterns with “Averted” and Synonyms

  • Subject + averted + object (e.g., The manager averted a problem.)
  • Subject + synonym + object (e.g., The doctor prevented an infection.)

Most synonyms follow similar sentence patterns, but some may have alternative structures or require specific prepositions.

4.2. Active vs. Passive Voice

  • Active: The subject performs the action (e.g., The team averted defeat.)
  • Passive: The focus is on the event, not the agent (e.g., Defeat was averted by the team.)

When to use each: Use passive voice when the agent is unknown or less important.

4.3. Verb Forms and Tenses

  • Present: avert, prevent, avoid, etc. (They prevent accidents.)
  • Past: averted, prevented, avoided, etc. (They averted disaster.)
  • Perfect: has/have/had averted, prevented, etc. (They have prevented many mistakes.)

4.4. Prepositional Patterns

  • “Averted from”: Rare, but possible when talking about direction (He averted his gaze from the scene.)
  • “Diverted from”: More common for changing direction or attention (The speaker diverted attention from the mistake.)
  • Other prepositions: deter from, prevent from
Table 2: Structural Patterns for “Averted” and Synonyms
Pattern Example with “Averted” Example with Synonym
Subject + verb + object The firefighters averted tragedy. The firefighters prevented tragedy.
Subject + verb + prepositional phrase He averted his eyes from the accident. He diverted his eyes from the accident.
Passive construction Crisis was averted by fast action. Crisis was avoided by fast action.
Perfect tense The government has averted a recession. The government has forestalled a recession.
With “from” (rare for “averted”) He averted his gaze from the scene. He diverted attention from the issue.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES OF SYNONYMS

5.1. Direct Synonyms (Prevention Focus)

  • Prevent: To stop something from happening before it occurs. (e.g., The doctor prevented infection.)
  • Avoid: To stay away from something or prevent it by action. (e.g., He avoided an argument.)
  • Stop: To bring an action or event to an end. (e.g., They stopped a disaster.)
  • Forestall: To act in advance to prevent something. (e.g., Measures forestalled a crisis.)
  • Preclude: To make something impossible; to prevent. (e.g., The evidence precluded doubt.)

Nuance: “Forestall” and “preclude” are more formal and imply action taken before an event.

5.2. Indirect or Contextual Synonyms (Redirection/Deflection Focus)

  • Divert: To turn something aside from its course. (e.g., He diverted attention from the problem.)
  • Deflect: To cause something to change direction. (e.g., She deflected criticism.)
  • Deter: To discourage someone from taking action. (e.g., The threat deterred invasion.)
  • Sidestep: To avoid dealing with something directly. (e.g., He sidestepped the issue.)
  • Circumvent: To find a way around an obstacle or problem. (e.g., They circumvented the rule.)

Nuance: These words often suggest redirecting rather than direct prevention.

5.3. Formal vs. Informal Synonyms

  • Formal: preclude, forestall, obviate
  • Neutral: prevent, avoid
  • Informal: dodge, stave off

5.4. Intensity and Register

  • Strong: thwart, foil, stave off
  • Mild: avoid, sidestep
Table 3: Synonyms Categorized by Meaning, Register, and Intensity
Synonym Category Register Intensity Typical Object
Prevent Direct Neutral Medium Disaster, mistake, accident
Forestall Direct Formal Strong Crisis, attack, failure
Avoid Direct Neutral Mild Problem, conflict, person
Divert Indirect Neutral Medium Attention, resources
Thwart Direct Formal Strong Plan, attempt, plot
Dodge Indirect Informal Mild Bullet, question, responsibility
Obviate Direct Formal Medium Need, difficulty
Circumvent Indirect Formal Medium Rule, obstacle, law
Stave off Direct Informal Strong Disaster, famine, defeat

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1. Basic Examples for Each Synonym

  • Prevent
    • Vaccines prevent many diseases.
    • She prevented an accident by reacting quickly.
    • Good planning can prevent problems.
  • Avoid
    • He avoided a confrontation with his boss.
    • We must avoid making the same mistake twice.
    • She avoided traffic by leaving early.
  • Forestall
    • Early intervention forestalled a crisis.
    • The company forestalled bankruptcy by securing a loan.
    • They forestalled complaints by improving service.
  • Preclude
    • Lack of evidence precluded a conviction.
    • Weather conditions preclude outdoor activities today.
    • His injury precludes him from playing.
  • Divert
    • The manager diverted attention from the error.
    • The river was diverted to prevent flooding.
    • He tried to divert the conversation.
  • Deflect
    • She deflected criticism with humor.
    • The shield deflected the blow.
    • He deflected questions about his past.
  • Deter
    • The high price deterred many buyers.
    • Security cameras deter crime.
    • The threat of punishment deters cheating.
  • Sidestep
    • He sidestepped the difficult question.
    • They sidestepped the issue of cost.
    • She sidestepped responsibility for the error.
  • Circumvent
    • They circumvented the rule by finding a loophole.
    • The proposal circumvents existing regulations.
    • He circumvented the obstacle with ease.
  • Thwart
    • The police thwarted the robbery.
    • Plans were thwarted by bad weather.
    • Her efforts were thwarted by opposition.
  • Obviate
    • The new procedure obviates the need for surgery.
    • Automation obviates many manual tasks.
    • This measure obviates further discussion.
  • Stave off
    • Extra funding staved off bankruptcy.
    • They staved off defeat until the last minute.
    • He ate a snack to stave off hunger.
  • Dodge
    • She dodged a bullet by missing the meeting.
    • He dodged responsibility for the mistake.
    • The athlete dodged his opponent.
  • Foil
    • The plot was foiled by the authorities.
    • The plan was foiled at the last minute.
    • The guard foiled the escape attempt.

6.2. Comparative Examples

  • Averted vs. Prevented: The quick response averted a disaster. vs. The quick response prevented a disaster.
  • Averted vs. Avoided: The driver averted an accident. vs. The driver avoided an accident.
  • Averted vs. Forestalled: They averted a crisis with new measures. vs. They forestalled a crisis with new measures.
  • Averted vs. Diverted: The manager averted blame. vs. The manager diverted blame.

6.3. Collocations with Synonyms

  • Avert disaster, avert tragedy, avert crisis, avert accident
  • Prevent infection, prevent damage, prevent violence
  • Forestall collapse, forestall complaints, forestall attack
  • Preclude possibility, preclude error, preclude participation
  • Divert attention, divert funds, divert resources
  • Deflect blame, deflect criticism, deflect attack
  • Deter crime, deter aggression, deter theft
  • Sidestep question, sidestep obstacle, sidestep rule
  • Circumvent regulation, circumvent problem, circumvent limitation
  • Thwart plans, thwart efforts, thwart attack
  • Obviate need, obviate risk, obviate concern
  • Stave off bankruptcy, stave off hunger, stave off defeat
  • Dodge question, dodge bullet, dodge responsibility
  • Foil attempt, foil robbery, foil escape

6.4. Formal vs. Informal Context Examples

  • Formal: The new legislation averted a constitutional crisis.
  • Informal: I really dodged a bullet with that exam!
  • Formal: The intervention precluded further violence.
  • Informal: He sidestepped that awkward question pretty well.

6.5. Examples in Academic and Professional Writing

  • The implementation of strict guidelines precluded data breaches.
  • Proactive measures forestalled a major environmental disaster.
  • Additional funding averted layoffs within the organization.
  • The new system obviates the risk of human error.
  • Enhanced security deterred potential hackers.
Table 4: Example Sentences for Each Synonym (organized by category)
Synonym Example Sentence 1 Example Sentence 2 Example Sentence 3
Avert The guard averted disaster by closing the gate. She averted her eyes from the scene. Timely action averted an accident.
Prevent Vaccines prevent illness. He prevented an argument by staying calm. Careful planning prevents problems.
Forestall Early warnings forestalled tragedy. They forestalled objections by providing evidence. The medicine forestalled infection.
Divert He diverted attention from the mistake. The river was diverted to avoid flooding. The speaker diverted the discussion.
Sidestep He sidestepped the issue during the interview. They sidestepped new regulations. She sidestepped the problem creatively.
Thwart The police thwarted the plan. Efforts were thwarted by opposition. The hero thwarted the villain’s plot.
Dodge She dodged a bullet by not attending. He dodged responsibility for the error. The athlete dodged his opponent.
Table 5: Collocations Table — Common Noun + Synonym Pairings
Object/Noun Avert Prevent Forestall Divert Thwart Dodge
Disaster ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Accident ✔ ✔
Attention ✔
Question ✔
Crisis ✔ ✔ ✔
Bullet (Idiom) ✔
Plan ✔ ✔ ✔
Table 6: Formal vs. Informal Example Sentences
Context Formal Example Informal Example
Disaster The new protocol averted disaster. We totally dodged a bullet there!
Question She sidestepped the inquiry with a detailed statement. He just dodged the question.
Regulation They circumvented the regulation through a legal loophole. They found a way around the rule.
Table 7: Synonym Usage in Different Tenses (present, past, perfect)
Synonym Present Past Present Perfect
Avert They avert danger every day. They averted danger yesterday. They have averted danger many times.
Prevent He prevents accidents at work. He prevented an accident last week. He has prevented several accidents.
Forestall The doctor forestalls complications. The doctor forestalled complications. The doctor has forestalled complications.
Divert She diverts attention skillfully. She diverted attention yesterday. She has diverted attention many times.
Sidestep He sidesteps the issue. He sidestepped the issue. He has sidestepped the issue before.

7. USAGE RULES

7.1. Choosing the Right Synonym

  • Nuance: “Avert” and “prevent” are often interchangeable, but “avert” suggests a narrow escape, while “prevent” is broader.
  • Register: Match the synonym to the formality of your context (e.g., use “forestall” or “preclude” in academic writing).
  • Appropriateness: Avoid using strong terms like “thwart” or “foil” for minor issues.

7.2. Syntactic Rules

  • Transitivity: Most synonyms require a direct object (avert disaster, prevent accidents), but “avoid” can sometimes be used without one (She avoided.) in informal speech.
  • Passive voice compatibility: “Averted,” “prevented,” and “forestall” can be used in passive constructions. “Dodge” and “sidestep” are less common in passive.

7.3. Common Collocation Rules

  • Avert/Prevent/Forestall/Preclude are commonly used with abstract negative outcomes (disaster, crisis).
  • Divert is used with attention, funds, resources.
  • Sidestep/Dodge are used with questions, issues, bullets (idiom).

7.4. Tense and Form Selection

  • Simple past: Use to describe completed actions (They averted disaster yesterday.).
  • Present perfect: Use for actions with relevance to the present (They have averted disaster many times.).

7.5. Special Cases and Exceptions

  • Idioms: “Dodge a bullet” means to narrowly escape trouble (informal, not literal).
  • Literal vs. metaphorical: “Avert your eyes” is literal; “avert disaster” is metaphorical.
Table 8: Synonym Selection Guide (context, object, and register)
Context Object Recommended Synonym(s) Register
Academic writing crisis, risk, error avert, prevent, forestall, preclude Neutral/Formal
Business report loss, disaster, mistake avert, prevent, obviate Neutral/Formal
Everyday speech argument, problem, accident avoid, dodge, sidestep Neutral/Informal
Media/news disaster, tragedy, attack avert, prevent, thwart Neutral/Formal
Legal/official liability, risk, breach preclude, obviate, deter Formal
Informal conversation bullet (idiom), question dodge, sidestep Informal

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1. Misusing Synonyms in Context

  • Incorrect: The manager diverted disaster.
    Correct: The manager averted (or prevented) disaster.
  • Incorrect: She precluded her eyes from the scene.
    Correct: She averted her eyes from the scene.

8.2. Incorrect Register

  • Incorrect: The new law dodged tax evasion. (too informal)
    Correct: The new law precluded tax evasion.

8.3. Grammatical Errors

  • Incorrect: Averted to disaster.
    Correct: Averted disaster.
  • Incorrect: He prevented from going.
    Correct: He was prevented from going.

8.4. Collocation Errors

  • Incorrect: They averted attention to the issue.
    Correct: They diverted attention to the issue.
  • Incorrect: She dodged disaster. (possible, but “avoided” or “averted” is better)
    Correct: She averted disaster.

8.5. Overuse and Redundancy

  • Incorrect: The manager averted and prevented disaster.
    Correct: The manager averted disaster. (Choose one synonym)

Correct vs. Incorrect Example Pairs:

  1. Incorrect: The plan was dodged by the committee.
    Correct: The plan was thwarted by the committee.
  2. Incorrect: He precluded the accident.
    Correct: He prevented the accident.
  3. Incorrect: She averted from the question.
    Correct: She sidestepped the question.
  4. Incorrect: The rules averted the loophole.
    Correct: The rules precluded the loophole.
  5. Incorrect: He diverted disaster.
    Correct: He averted disaster.
  6. Incorrect: She thwarted her eyes.
    Correct: She averted her eyes.
  7. Incorrect: They prevented attention from the problem.
    Correct: They diverted attention from the problem.
  8. Incorrect: The law dodged tax evasion.
    Correct: The law precluded tax evasion.
  9. Incorrect: He averted to disaster.
    Correct: He averted disaster.
  10. Incorrect: She dodged the regulation.
    Correct: She circumvented the regulation.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

Directions: Try each set of exercises below, then check your answers and explanations.

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank (with Answer Key)

  1. Quick thinking __________ a disaster.
  2. The new security measures __________ break-ins.
  3. He __________ the issue by changing the subject.
  4. Strict laws __________ tax evasion.
  5. They __________ defeat with a last-minute goal.

Answers:

  1. averted
  2. prevented
  3. sidestepped
  4. preclude/prevented
  5. staved off

Explanations: Use “averted” for disaster, “prevented” for break-ins, “sidestepped” for avoiding direct discussion, “preclude” or “prevented” for laws stopping something, and “staved off” for narrowly avoiding defeat.

9.2. Sentence Correction

  1. He diverted disaster by acting quickly.
  2. They precluded the accident.
  3. The manager dodged the mistake.
  4. The rules averted the loophole.
  5. She thwarted her eyes from the scene.

Corrected Sentences:

  1. He averted disaster by acting quickly.
  2. They prevented the accident.
  3. The manager avoided the mistake.
  4. The rules precluded the loophole.
  5. She averted her eyes from the scene.

9.3. Synonym Identification

  1. The guard’s quick actions stopped the robbery. (Choose: averted, dodged, precluded)
  2. She found a way around the new rule. (Choose: circumvented, prevented, thwarted)
  3. The new vaccine makes infection impossible. (Choose: foils, obviates, diverts)
  4. The manager skillfully changed the topic. (Choose: sidestepped, staved off, thwarted)
  5. Security cameras discourage thieves. (Choose: deter, avert, dodge)

Answers:

  1. averted
  2. circumvented
  3. obviates
  4. sidestepped
  5. deter

9.4. Sentence Construction

  • Write a sentence using “forestall” in the context of disease.
  • Write a sentence using “divert” in the context of traffic.
  • Write a sentence using “dodge” in the context of a question.
  • Write a sentence using “preclude” in the context of participation.
  • Write a sentence using “thwart” in the context of a plan.

Sample Answers:

  • Timely vaccination can forestall disease outbreaks.
  • Police diverted traffic to avoid congestion.
  • She dodged the question by changing the subject.
  • The rules preclude his participation in the event.
  • The security system thwarted the thieves’ plan.

9.5. Paraphrasing

  • Original: The new measures averted disaster.
    Paraphrase: The new measures prevented disaster.
  • Original: He averted his eyes from the scene.
    Paraphrase: He turned his eyes away from the scene.
  • Original: Quick action averted a crisis.
    Paraphrase: Quick action forestalled a crisis.
  • Original: The company averted bankruptcy.
    Paraphrase: The company staved off bankruptcy.
  • Original: The law averted tax evasion.
    Paraphrase: The law precluded tax evasion.

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1. Subtle Nuances Between Synonyms

  • Forestall vs. Preclude vs. Prevent: “Forestall” means acting in advance to stop something; “preclude” means making something impossible; “prevent” is the most general.
  • Avert vs. Avoid: “Avert” implies active intervention; “avoid” can mean simply not encountering something.

10.2. Collocational Restrictions

  • “Avert disaster” is common, but “avert attention” is not. Use “divert attention” instead.
  • “Dodged a bullet” is idiomatic; not used literally.

10.3. Stylistic Variation for Advanced Writing

  • Varying between “avert,” “thwart,” and “foil” provides stylistic richness in narratives.
  • Use more formal synonyms in academic/professional writing for precision.

10.4. Synonyms in Idiomatic and Figurative Language

  • “Dodge a bullet” = narrowly escape harm.
  • “Stave off disaster” = delay or narrowly avoid disaster.

10.5. Contrast with Near-Opposites and Antonyms

  • Antonyms: cause, allow, permit, enable.
  • Example: “The error caused disaster” (not averted).
Table 9: Subtle Distinctions Table — Synonyms Compared Side-by-Side
Pair Distinction Example 1 Example 2
Forestall vs. Prevent Forestall is proactive, prevent is general Early warnings forestalled disaster. Safety measures prevented disaster.
Preclude vs. Prevent Preclude = make impossible, prevent = stop The evidence precluded doubt. The police prevented crime.
Divert vs. Avert Divert = redirect, avert = prevent negative The speaker diverted attention from the error. The speaker averted criticism by apologizing.
Thwart vs. Foil Both mean “stop,” but “foil” often implies clever opposition The police thwarted the plan. The police foiled the attempt.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What is the difference between “averted” and “prevented”?

    “Averted” often suggests a narrow escape from disaster, emphasizing active intervention at the last moment. “Prevented” is broader, referring to stopping something from happening at any stage.

  2. When should I use “avert” instead of “avoid”?

    Use “avert” when you actively stop a negative event from happening (e.g., “avert disaster”). Use “avoid” when you stay away from something (e.g., “avoid trouble”). “Avert” is more formal and implies agency.

  3. Can “averted” be used in informal speech?

    Yes, but it is more common in formal or serious contexts. In casual conversation, people may use “avoided,” “dodged,” or “sidestepped” instead.

  4. Are there any synonyms of “averted” that are more formal?

    Yes. “Preclude,” “forestall,” and “obviate” are more formal and are often used in academic or professional writing.

  5. What are the most common mistakes when using synonyms of “averted”?

    Common mistakes include using the wrong register, incorrect verb-object combinations, wrong prepositions, or choosing a word that doesn’t fit the context (e.g., “divert disaster” instead of “avert disaster”).

  6. How do I know which synonym fits my sentence best?

    Consider the context (formal/informal), the object (disaster, attention, question), and the nuance (direct prevention vs. redirection). Refer to the tables for guidance.

  7. Can I use “averted” in the passive voice?

    Yes. “Averted” is commonly used in passive constructions (e.g., “Disaster was averted.”).

  8. Are there idioms that use synonyms of “averted”?

    Yes. Common idioms include “dodge a bullet” and “stave off disaster.”

  9. Is “averted” appropriate in academic writing?

    Yes. “Averted” is suitable for academic and professional contexts, especially when discussing the avoidance of negative outcomes.

  10. Are all synonyms of “averted” interchangeable?

    No. While many share similar meanings, they differ in nuance, collocation, and register. Always consider the context and object.

  11. What are some synonyms of “averted” for poetic or literary contexts?

    Words like “thwart,” “foil,” “stave off,” and “circumvent” are often used in literature for stylistic effect.

  12. How do register and tone affect synonym choice for “averted”?

    Choose more formal synonyms (e.g., “preclude,” “forestall”) for academic or professional writing, and informal ones (e.g., “dodge,” “sidestep”) for casual speech.

12. CONCLUSION

A deep understanding of “averted” and its many synonyms empowers you to express the concept of prevention and avoidance with precision and variety. Throughout this article, we’ve explored the meaning, grammatical usage, and nuances of “averted,” examined a wide range of synonyms, and provided dozens of examples, contrastive pairs, and practical exercises.

The ability to select the right synonym—matched to context, register, and nuance—is a key skill for effective communication, whether in writing or speaking. Use the tables and examples in this guide as reference tools, and practice regularly to internalize the subtle distinctions between these words.

By mastering the art of expressing prevention, you will make your English more dynamic, clear, and sophisticated.

Continue practicing, stay curious about language, and remember: a rich vocabulary opens doors to clearer thinking and more persuasive communication. Let these synonyms help you avert not just disaster, but also monotony and misunderstanding in your English!

Leave a Comment