How to Use ward off in a Sentence
ward off
phrasal verb-
The shop was busy on day-one, even if there were no doors to ward off the February chill.
— Nicole Phelps, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024 -
Chili peppers were used to treat illness in the Maya world and may have been placed at the site to ward off disease.
— Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024 -
Try this afternoon tonic How to ward off the 4 p.m. slump?
— Hannah Coates, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023 -
That was enough to ward off diabetes in about 70% of patients.
— Madison Muller, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023 -
This khaki canopy helps ward off the summer sun and offers 8 x 5 feet of shade—enough for a grill or a few chairs.
— Gabriela Izquierdo, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 May 2023 -
The plan is to strategically place units around choke points to ward off danger, and set up traps.
— Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024 -
They’re even designed to hold citronella oil to help ward off any pesky bugs as well.
— Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023 -
It’s known to strengthen the immune system and ward off disease.
— Nicole Kagan, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2023 -
The trick is using lighter colors to ward off fading and warping.
— Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Oct. 2023 -
Eat nutritious food and wear warm clothes to ward off winter chill.
— Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Jan. 2024 -
It’s enriched with fresh rose stem cells to help ward off hair growth disturbances.
— Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2023 -
Some people like to carry bear bells on their hikes, hoping the noise will ward off the animals.
— Cnn, The Mercury News, 7 June 2024 -
Having strong core muscles can also help ward off back pain, Dr. Dhanani adds.
— Ashley Abramson, SELF, 15 Feb. 2024 -
Use your experience to ward off last-minute changes that don’t fit your agenda.
— Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024 -
Some also believe eating the grapes helps ward off evil spirits.
— Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2023 -
Officials said the fireworks are to ward off evil spirits for the upcoming year.
— Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2024 -
The central banks of advanced economies around the world hiked interest rates to ward off a global bout of inflation.
— Carlos Waters, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2024 -
The researchers looked at the gene expression in leukocytes, which are white blood cells made in the bone marrow that create proteins to ward off pathogens.
— Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2023 -
In ancient Rome and Greece, members of the elite would wear sapphires to ward off harm and envy, according to the Institute.
— Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2024 -
Americans think nothing of dropping a few ice cubes into tall glasses of tea to ward off the heat of a hot summer day….
— Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 8 Dec. 2023 -
To protect your tree and ward off the wildlife, try spraying the tree with a cayenne pepper and water mixture (16 parts water, one part cayenne pepper).
— Steve Bender, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 -
With the blaze threatening to reach the city in the coming days, firefighters have tried to ward off flames that have come close to Yellowknife, officials said.
— Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2023 -
Active Insect Repellent is your best bet to ward off harmful bugs and pests.
— Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2023 -
Chinese Angelenos wore whistles around their necks to ward off would-be attackers on the street.
— Casey Schwartz, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 -
Thankfully, this box comes with a removable, sturdy wire chain that can be wrapped around a beach chair or table to ward off thieves.
— Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023 -
Amazon has no shortage of gear to help ward off thieves, so keep reading to find more travel safety items on sale at the retailer.
— Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023 -
In return for the safety of a home, the clownfish wards off potential predators, such as butterfly fish.
— Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023 -
To pacify these spirits and ward off trouble, people would leave out offerings of food.
— Brandon Tensley, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024 -
Others in Indonesia pierced their faces with needles—a practice said to ward off evil spirits.
— TIME, 24 Feb. 2024 -
Having a routine around sunset can also ward off anxiety, and give you a sense of purpose.
— Lauren Mazzo, SELF, 16 Oct. 2024
Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ward off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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