Avert

At its core, avert (verb) means to turn away or to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous from happening [5.3, 5.6]. It originates from Latin roots meaning "to turn away from" [5.3]. Two Distinct Usages To Prevent or Ward Off (Unpleasant Events):

implies a direct, active effort to stop a specific, impending negative outcome [5.2, 5.3].

This implies active effort to stop a disaster, tragedy, or crisis [5.2, 5.5]. At its core, avert (verb) means to turn

Examples: "she her gaze," "I averted my eyes while he dressed" [5.1, 5.5].

While often used interchangeably, there is a nuance: This implies active effort to stop a disaster,

Key Difference: You avert a crisis you are facing, but you avoid a situation that could lead to one [5.2].

This refers to the physical act of looking away from something undesirable or turning one's mind from a distressing thought [5.1, 5.5]. This refers to the physical act of looking

is more passive, often meaning to keep away from, stay away from, or refrain from a situation [5.2].