Word Study
ward off
THESAURUS
ward off
about the bush, anticipate, avert, bar, beat around, beat back, beat off, beg the question, block, brush off, chase, chase away, chase off, check, counter, cut, debar, deflect, deter, discourage, dishearten, dismiss, dodge, drive away, drive back, duck, equivocate, estop, exclude, fence, fend, fend off, forbid, foreclose, forestall, hedge, help, hem and haw, hinder, hold at bay, hold off, keep at bay, keep from, keep off, obstruct, obviate, pack off, parry, preclude, prevent, prohibit, pull away, pull back, push back, pussyfoot, put back, put off, rebuff, rebut, recoil, refuse, repel, repulse, rule out, save, send away, send off, send packing, sheer off, shift, shift off, shrink, shy, shy away, shy off, sidestep, snub, spurn, stave off, step aside, stop, swerve, thrust back, turn aside, turn backROGET THESAURUS
ward off
Hindrance
VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.Defense
VB defend, forfend, fend, shield, screen, shroud, engarrison, fend round, fence, entrench, intrench, guard, guard against, take care of, bear harmless, fend off, keep off, ward off, beat off, beat back, hinder, parry, repel, propugn, put to flight, give a warm reception to, hold at bay, keep at bay, keep arm's length, stand on the defensive, act on the defensive, show fight, maintain one's ground, stand one's ground, stand by, hold one's own, bear the brunt, stand the brunt, fall back upon, hold, stand in the gap.For further exploring for "ward off" in Webster Dictionary Online