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)deflectturn aside and away from an initial or intended course (v)distract, deflectdraw someone's attention away from something“The thief distracted the bystanders”,
“He deflected his competitors” (v)parry, block, deflectimpede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)“block an attack”