| Obviate 1. (v. t.) To render unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent by interception; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the necessity of going. Thesaurus Entries anticipate, avert, bar, debar, deflect, deter, discourage, dishearten, estop, exclude, fend, fend off, forbid, foreclose, forestall, help, interfere, interpose, intervene, keep from, keep off, preclude, prevent, prohibit, repel, rule out, save, stave off, turn aside, ward, ward off |