obviate

[ ob-vee-eyt ]

/ ˈɒb viˌeɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR obviate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ob·vi·at·ed, ob·vi·at·ing.

to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary: to obviate the risk of serious injury.

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“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.

True

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Origin of obviate

1590–1600; < Latin obviātus, past participle of obviāre to act contrary to, derivative of obvius; see obvious, -ate¹

SYNONYMS FOR obviate

preclude, avert, anticipate.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR obviate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM obviate

ob·vi·a·ble

[ob-vee-uh-buhl] /ˈɒb vi ə bəl/, adjectiveob·vi·a·tion, nounob·vi·a·tor, nounpre·ob·vi·ate, verb (used with object), pre·ob·vi·at·ed, pre·ob·vi·at·ing.

un·ob·vi·a·ble, adjectiveun·ob·vi·at·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obviate

ameliorate obviate vitiate

Words nearby obviate

obumbrate, obv, obverse, obversion, obvert, obviate, obvious, obviously, obvolute, obwalden, oc

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for obviate

But that does not obviate the U.S. from its statutory obligation to cancel its $1.3 billion aid to the Egyptian military.
Egypt: That Was A Coup|Ali Gharib|July 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mofaz in the government doesn't obviate the enormous technical obstacles to an Israeli strike.
October Surprise?|Elisheva Goldberg|May 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This is most obvious when expensive forms of trash are forced to backflip until they obviate their standard uses.
A Pictorial Ode to Michelle|Stanley Crouch|December 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
To obviate such difficulties, some instructors demonstrate principles by first angle constructions.
College Teaching|Paul Klapper

To obviate this, a new hospital was set apart, under the reign of Charles X., for the reception of male patients only.
The History of Prostitution|William W. Sanger
To obviate these defects the enamelled platinum denture was devised.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2|Various
Pierce was not ignorant of this, and to obviate Smooth's difficulties, said he would send him Down East, as before related.
The Adventures of My Cousin Smooth|Timothy Templeton
To obviate these difficulties new "Five-Minute" books have been prepared by a competent teacher.
Lessons on Manners|Edith E. Wiggin

British Dictionary definitions for obviate

obviate

/ (ˈɒbvɪˌeɪt) /

verb

(tr) to avoid or prevent (a need or difficulty)

Derived forms of obviate

obviation, noun

Word Origin for obviate

C16: from Late Latin obviātus prevented, past participle of obviāre; see obvious

usage for obviate

Only things that have not yet occurred can be obviated. For example, one can obviate a possible future difficulty, but not one that already exists

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

obviate

verb (used with object), ob·vi·at·ed, ob·vi·at·ing.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU ACE THIS QUIZ ABOUT “COMPLIMENT” VS. “COMPLEMENT”?

Origin of obviate

SYNONYMS FOR obviate

OTHER WORDS FROM obviate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obviate

Words nearby obviate

Words related to obviate

Example sentences from the Web for obviate

British Dictionary definitions for obviate

verb

Derived forms of obviate

Word Origin for obviate

usage for obviate