forestalled

USAGE SUMMARY

'forestalled' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is often used in the context of preventing or hindering something from happening. Example: The unexpected snowstorm forestalled our plans for a weekend camping trip.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Three days before the summit, the police said they had forestalled a planned attack by ETA, the Basque separatist group.

The Economist

Again, however, the government has made clear that its understanding of the purpose of debate was less to gauge and accommodate popular demands than to "strengthen national unity" in the face of harsh criticism from abroad, especially from America.A bitter election messageOther countries in the region have forestalled American ire by keeping up better democratic appearances.

The Economist

Israel claimed there was good evidence the raid had forestalled a terrorist attack.

The Economist

Yet his own death, which forestalled the trial that might have provided a full accounting of his means and motives, unleashed much wilder theories: that he was acting on behalf of the Cubans, the Mafia, or even the American government itself.

The Economist

China's massive stimulus programme may have forestalled disaster in the migrant-labour force.

The Economist

It was the Russians who "forestalled destructive acts" against themselves, by seeking to counterbalance the American first-strike capability represented by the medium-range Thor missiles based in Turkey.

The Economist

By doing so, he has probably forestalled Republican proposals to use the surplus for tax cuts.

The Economist

Disrupting it thus forestalled the risk of creating anything nasty.The team placed orders for the cassettes with three firms that turn such things out routinely.

The Economist

Ishikawa Bank forestalled the regulator by raising the ¥22 billion in March and April, putting it back over the 4% threshold before the FSA's five-month inspection was completed in May 2001.

The Economist

A typical local doctor, Mr Edwards adds, will see "two or three cancer cases a year"—nowhere near enough to improve strategies or timelines for diagnosis.Bringing in the private sector to help with data crunching and to manage contracts and facilities might help, but such ideas are often forestalled by shrill charges of creeping privatisation.

The Economist

The IMF stepped in, offering a US$7.6bn emergency financing package in late 2008 that forestalled an economic meltdown.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forestalled" to convey that an action effectively prevented something from happening, often by acting in advance or taking preemptive measures.

Common error

While "forestalled" is a valid word, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "prevented" or "avoided" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

Forestalled primarily functions as a verb in the past tense, indicating that an action or event has successfully prevented another from occurring. Ludwig confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "forestalled" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb that indicates the successful prevention of an event or action, often through proactive measures. Ludwig AI validates its usage across a range of formal and neutral contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias and scientific publications. While effective, it may sound overly formal in casual settings. Consider using alternatives like "prevented" or "averted" to ensure the correct register. Understanding its communicative purpose helps effectively convey the act of stopping something from happening, highlighting the anticipatory nature of the action taken.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevented

Direct synonym emphasizing the act of stopping something from occurring.

averted

Implies turning away or warding off something, often a danger or negative outcome.

precluded

More formal, suggesting something was made impossible beforehand.

thwarted

Emphasizes the frustration of plans or efforts.

hindered

Suggests delaying or obstructing progress rather than complete prevention.

obviated

More formal, means to anticipate and prevent or eliminate something by effective measures.

nipped in the bud

Idiomatic, suggests stopping something early in its development.

headed off

Implies intercepting or diverting something to prevent a certain outcome.

circumvented

Suggests finding a way around or avoiding an obstacle or problem.

anticipated and prevented

Highlights both the foresight and the action taken to stop something.

FAQs

How can I use "forestalled" in a sentence?

You can use "forestalled" to indicate that an action or event prevented something else from happening. For example, "The early intervention "forestalled" a crisis."

What are some alternatives to "forestalled"?

Alternatives to "forestalled" include "prevented", "averted", and "precluded". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "forestalled" a formal or informal word?

"Forestalled" is generally considered a more formal word. In informal contexts, simpler words like "prevented" or "stopped" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "forestalled" and "prevented"?

While both words mean to stop something from happening, "forestalled" often implies taking action in advance to prevent something, whereas "prevented" is a more general term.