Open English Wordnet
Verbs
(v)debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward offprevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off“Let's avoid a confrontation”,
“head off a confrontation”,
“avert a strike” (v)avert, turn awayturn away or aside“They averted their eyes when the King entered”