averting disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "averting disaster" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to prevent a negative outcome or crisis. Example: "The team's quick response was crucial in averting disaster during the emergency situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Sullenberger is widely praised for averting disaster.

The Guardian

If something goes wrong at such a plant, boilers can be quickly shut down, averting disaster.

The New York Times

Although some credited him for averting disaster, others claimed that he and the Fed did little to prevent the crisis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A year later, midlevel envoys are trickling into a Mexican resort with hopes, at best, of averting disaster.

The New York Times - Science

And he has taken on a task so difficult that merely averting disaster may be the only triumph.

The New York Times

Economists widely expect that the United States will strike an 11th-hour deal to increase its $14.3 trillion borrowing authority, averting disaster.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

What her co-workers remember is Julia's incredible skill at averting disasters or turning them somehow to her advantage.

The New Yorker

Hollywood had averted disaster.

The New Yorker

Somehow, Kuerten averted disaster.

The New York Times - Sports

His surge averted disaster in Iraq.

The Economist

Again, the West averted disaster.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "averting disaster", ensure the context clearly identifies the potential disaster being prevented and the actions taken to avert it.

Common error

Avoid using "averting disaster" without specifying what disaster is being averted. Providing clear context enhances the impact and meaning of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "averting disaster" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the action of preventing a catastrophic event. Ludwig provides numerous examples from news and media demonstrating its use in describing crisis management and preventative measures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "averting disaster" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of preventing a catastrophic event. Ludwig's analysis shows the phrase is frequently found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While the phrase is generally used in a neutral register, it is important to provide clear context to the potential disaster being prevented. Alternatives such as "preventing catastrophe" or "staving off disaster" can be used depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

averting a crisis

Replaces "disaster" with "crisis", suggesting a situation that is less severe than a disaster but still requires urgent action.

preventing catastrophe

This alternative emphasizes the prevention of an extremely serious event, highlighting the severity of the averted outcome. It is a more intense alternative.

averting potential calamity

Modifies "disaster" with "potential calamity", implying the disaster was not sure to occur.

staving off disaster

This alternative suggests a temporary prevention or delay of a disaster, implying that the threat might still exist. It is a very close alternative.

forestalling calamity

This option focuses on acting in advance to prevent a calamitous event from occurring. It suggests foresight and proactive measures.

circumventing catastrophe

This emphasizes finding a way around a disaster, suggesting cleverness or strategic avoidance.

heading off a catastrophe

This alternative indicates stopping a catastrophic event before it gains momentum or fully develops.

precluding disaster

This means making a disaster impossible, indicating a complete and decisive preventative action.

warding off tragedy

Suggests protecting against a tragic event, often through continuous effort or vigilance.

mitigating potential disaster

This option focuses on lessening the severity of a disaster rather than preventing it entirely. It suggests reducing the impact.

FAQs

How can I use "averting disaster" in a sentence?

You can use "averting disaster" to describe actions taken to prevent a potentially catastrophic event. For example, "The quick response of the emergency services was crucial in "averting disaster"."

What's a more formal way to say "averting disaster"?

A more formal alternative to "averting disaster" could be "preventing catastrophe" or "forestalling calamity". These phrases carry a more serious tone.

Is "averting disaster" the same as "mitigating disaster"?

"Averting disaster" means preventing it from happening altogether, while "mitigating disaster" means reducing its impact after it has already occurred. They are not interchangeable.

What are some common scenarios where one might talk about "averting disaster"?

The phrase "averting disaster" is often used in contexts such as environmental crises, financial collapses, public health emergencies, and political instability to describe actions taken to prevent a catastrophic outcome.