obviate

obviate
    v 1: do away with [syn: {obviate}, {rid of}, {eliminate}] [ant:
         {ask}, {call for}, {demand}, {involve}, {necessitate},
         {need}, {postulate}, {require}, {take}]
    2: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's
       avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a
       strike" [syn: {debar}, {forefend}, {forfend}, {obviate},
       {deflect}, {avert}, {head off}, {stave off}, {fend off},
       {avoid}, {ward off}]
    

Obviate \Ob"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Obviated}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Obviating}.] [L. obviare; ob (see {Ob-}) + viare to
   go, fr. via way. See {Voyage}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To meet in the way. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Not to stir a step to obviate any of a different
            religion.                             --Fuller.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To anticipate; to prevent by interception; to remove from
      the way or path; to make unnecessary; as, to obviate the
      necessity of going.
      [1913 Webster]

            To lay down everything in its full light, so as to
            obviate all exceptions.               --Woodward.
      [1913 Webster]
    

31 Moby Thesaurus words for "obviate":
      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