obviate

[ob-vee-eyt]

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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.

Origin of obviate

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

Related formsob·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

Can be confusedameliorate obviate vitiate

Synonyms for obviate

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preclude, avert, anticipate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for obviate

forestall, preclude, counteract, hinder, prevent, counter, avert, anticipate, intervene, interpose, remove, interfere, restrain, ward, deter, block, forfend

Examples from the Web for obviate

Contemporary Examples of 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
Mofaz in the government doesn't obviate the enormous technical obstacles to an Israeli strike.
October Surprise?
Elisheva Goldberg
May 8, 2012
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

Historical Examples of obviate

We have, perhaps, incurred the very hazard we hoped to obviate.
The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II)
Charles James Lever
Will you allow me to arrange your shirt so as to obviate it?
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
She then, to obviate that objection, lent me a black domino.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Elizabeth Robins Pennell
But shall we, to obviate these evils, completely transpose their conditions?
The Young Maiden
A. B. (Artemas Bowers) Muzzey
I fear that result, and hope that you will try to obviate it.
The Peace Negotiations
J. D. Kestell

British Dictionary definitions for obviate

obviate

verb

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

Derived Formsobviation, noun

Word Origin for obviate

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

usage

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

Word Origin and History for obviate

1590s, "to meet and do away with," from Late Latin obviatus, past participle of obviare "act contrary to, go against," from Latin obvius "that is in the way, that moves against" (see obvious). Related: Obviated; obviating.