prevented 1 of 2

adjective

as in stopped

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prevented

2 of 2

verb

past tense of prevent
as in averted
to keep from happening by taking action in advance a lot of problems would have been prevented if we'd just prepared better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prevented
Verb
Authorities immediately launched a rescue operation involving firefighters, police, the National Disaster Response Force and civic officials but efforts were hampered by narrow access lanes that prevented the use of heavy machinery, officials said. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Both came alive right along the Gulf Coast and were battered by wind shear every step of the way, which prevented them from strengthening significantly and limited their impacts overall. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 The study interviewed around 1,000 patients at a hospital and found that those with pancreatic cancer drank more coffee—but many members of the control group had other medical issues that prevented them from drinking coffee at all. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026 Officials said Sunday that fire activity had prevented them from quickly reaching the area amid steep, rough terrain. — Jamie Stengle, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2026 Despite this severe double-ignition scenario, the battery structure contained the heat and prevented fire from cascading to nearby cells, demonstrating remarkable structural isolation. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 Tradition—and respect for judicial independence—had prevented it. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Given the suddenness, it's concluded Waymo likely couldn't have reliably prevented contact, though such incidents offer learning opportunities for autonomous systems. — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Neither are ideal, but this hasn’t prevented City fans from generating a decent atmosphere inside their new surrounds, particularly during last season’s run-in when the final nine home games were all won. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevented
  1. stopped
  2. averted
  3. precluded
  4. suppressed
Adjective
  • Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.
    — Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The truck crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed into the stopped Kia, striking the three pedestrians, CHP said.
    — Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Feb. 2026
Definition of stopped
Verb
  • The call that might have averted disaster came into William Mulholland’s office that morning.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The studies, and lack of follow-through, raise the issue about what could have averted the still-climbing death toll, and what steps need to be taken to prepare for an inevitable next earthquake.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Definition of averted
Adjective
  • Over the ensuing decades—and fully informed of the substantial executive power exercised by the Commission—the Supreme Court has repeatedly and expressly left Humphrey's Executor in place, and so precluded Presidents from removing Commissioners at will.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of precluded
Adjective
  • General Manager Ken Holland hinted at potentially being done after trading center Phillip Danault for a draft pick in December and acquiring Panarin at a suppressed price in February, though he has been known to under-promise often and, sometimes, over-deliver.
    — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Supervising sound editor Alastair Sirkett told IndieWire that Peter Claffey’s big, former-rugby-player frame really helps that moment sing with suppressed panic.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Definition of suppressed

Browse Nearby Words

preventative
prevented
preventing
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Cite this Entry

“Prevented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevented. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prevented

Nglish: Translation of prevented for Spanish Speakers

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