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)ward offavert, turn away, or repel“Ward off danger”