HEADING OFF Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

heading off

verb

present participle of head off

as in preventing

to keep from happening by taking action in advance if we act quickly, we may still be able to head off disaster

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Recent Examples of heading off Finally, heading off to senior year wearing a Care Bears backpack could be a coping mechanism that helps teens deal with fears about the future. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026 Sadly, there are no plans for this sleek beast to be heading off-road outside of mainland China at this stage. — New Atlas, 4 Aug. 2026 After sitting down to get her hair done, Martha had just enough time to grout her kitchen floors before heading off to New York City to begin her workday. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 22 July 2026 Yet, with the Gaza death toll exceeding twenty-eight thousand, the amendment had enough support among progressives that Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, asked the White House for help heading off an intraparty feud. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 After high school, the plan was for Jonah Neal to work at Sam's Club and take a gap year before heading off to college. — Juliana Kim, NPR, 13 July 2026 Starting this month, a working adult in their mid-30s seeking to upgrade their skills will have access to the same source of federal financial aid that is available to a high school graduate heading off to a four-year degree institution in the fall. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026 The Friends mainstay and Inland Empire star were married in their backyard in front of a crowd of their A-list pals, before heading off to their Bora Bora honeymoon. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 Much of the young cast remained in Hollywood, though some took breaks to experience young-adult milestones, like heading off to college. — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heading off

Verb

These risks are all being taken in service to preventing a consequence that is not real.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
Skeleton screens, subtle button animations and brief progress messages keep an interface clean while still building trust and preventing the frustration of wondering if a click even worked.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of preventing

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heading

heading off

headings

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“Heading off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heading%20off. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of heading off

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