Obviate
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈɒb.viˌeɪt/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Obviate is a verb meaning (transitive) To avoid (a future problem or difficult situation).
Meaning
(transitive) To avoid (a future problem or difficult situation).
More Meanings
- (linguistics) Synonym of obviative.
- (transitive) To anticipate and prevent or bypass (something which would otherwise have been necessary or required); to render (something) unnecessary.
Example Sentences
Thus, to obviate resistance, the discussion should be relevant to the patient′s problems.
Some change requests, rather than extend the scope, obviate some of the existing scope of a project.
A mild dose of a warm active aperient to obviate costiveness, or to produce two motions daily, is generally very beneficial.
Colville has a rich deictic system with forms which distinguish, for example, between source and location, with each possibility characterized as proximate and obviate as well (Mattina, 1973).
Word Forms
- obviates
- obviating
- obviated
Synonyms for obviate
Depending on context, synonyms include avert, preclude, prevent, obviative, deflect, avoid.
Antonyms for obviate
Common opposites include ensure, entail, necessitate, require, demand, need.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include avert, debar, avoid, eliminate, deflect, prevent.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.