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 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
• 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
• Others in Indonesia pierced their faces with needles—a practice said to ward off evil spirits.
  — TIME, 24 Feb. 2024
• Its top side was soft enough to keep us feeling comfortable on this blanket while the waterproof side was durable enough to ward off water stains and snags.
  — Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 6 July 2023
• The practice of marrying animals is to ward off evil spirits.
  — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023
• Pure good fortune warded off serious violence when the two sides met.
  — Barton Gellman, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
• Anti-missile defenses like Phalanx and Goalkeeper ward off supersonic missiles by throwing up a wall of metal in front of the threat.
  — David Szondy, New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2024

Last Updated: 15 Sep 2024