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Avert vs Preclude - What's the difference?

avert | preclude |

In transitive terms the difference between avert and preclude

is that avert is to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of while preclude is remove the possibility of; rule out; prevent or exclude; to make impossible.

avert

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To turn aside or away.
    • To avert the eyes from an object.
  • To ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of.
    • How can the danger be averted ?
  • * Milton
    • To avert his ire.
  • * Prior
    • Till ardent prayer averts the public woe.
  • (archaic) To turn away.
  • * Thomson
    • Cold and averting from our neighbour's good.
  • (archaic) To turn away.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church.

    Derived terms

    * averter * avertress

    Synonyms

    * (to prevent) * See also

    References

    * " avert" at OneLook® Dictionary Search .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    preclude

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete)

    Verb

    (preclud)
  • Remove the possibility of; (l); prevent or exclude; to make (l).
    • It has been raining for days, but that doesn’t preclude the possibility that the skies will clear by this afternoon!
  • * {{quote-web
    • , date = 2013-08-09 , author = Douglas Main , title = Israel Outlaws Water Fluoridation , site = livescience , url = http://www.livescience.com/38796-israel-outlaws-water-fluoridation.html , accessdate = 2013-09-30 }}
    Israel's decision to ban fluoridation follows a vote to preclude the practice in Portland, Ore., and Wichita, Kan. It was also recently overturned in Hamilton, the fourth most populous city in New Zealand.

    Derived terms

    * precludable * preclusion * preclusive * preclusively