obviate

verb

ob·​vi·​ate ˈäb-vē-ˌāt 

obviated; obviating

transitive verb

: to anticipate and prevent (something, such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary

The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery.

obviation

ˌäb-vē-ˈā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Obviate derives from the Late Latin obviare (meaning "to meet or withstand") and the Latin obviam (meaning "in the way") and is also an ancestor of our adjective obvious. Obviate has a number of synonyms in English, including prevent, preclude, and avert; all of these words can mean "to hinder or stop something." When you prevent or preclude something, you put up an insurmountable obstacle. In addition, preclude often implies that a degree of chance was involved in stopping an event. Obviate generally suggests the use of intelligence or forethought to ward off trouble. Avert always implies that a bad situation has been anticipated and prevented or deflected by the application of immediate and effective means.

Synonyms

• avert
• forestall
• head off
• help
• preclude
• prevent
• stave off

Examples of obviate in a Sentence

The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery.

The new treatment obviates many of the risks associated with surgery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Non-moral explanations like these, whatever their differences, obviate talk of moral truths, construing them as dreamlike delusions. —Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

First, the United Kingdom as a whole could have remained within parts of the EU’s single market and customs union, thus obviating the need for checks on the Irish border. —Anand Menon, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2021

Synthetic persona testing doesn’t obviate the need for human testing. —Michelle Greenwald, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024

The authors suggest six scenarios that all boards must consider — and then act upon — ranging from predicting extreme operational changes, to anticipating new strategic ways to compete, to foreseeing existential threats that could obviate one’s business. —David Edelman vivek Sharma, Harvard Business Review, 25 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin obviatus, past participle of obviare to meet, withstand, from Latin obviam

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

obviate

verb

ob·​vi·​ate ˈäb-vē-ˌāt 

obviated; obviating

: to anticipate and take care of beforehand

obviate an objection