obviate the problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obviate the problem" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing ways to prevent or eliminate an issue before it arises. Example: "Implementing these safety measures will obviate the problem of workplace accidents."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Farmed insects, presumably, would obviate the problem, but I don't know if that will happen here without some government encouragement, similar to what's happening in Holland.

The New Yorker

That seems to obviate the problem, because the suggestion being canvassed here is not that grumpy Socrates is identical with Socrates' grumpiness so that the fact that these two entities have different modal properties need embarrasses no one but rather that grumpy Socrates is identical with Socrates.

SEP

Designing a balanced Likert scale (with an equal number of positive and negative statements) can obviate the problem of acquiescence bias, since acquiescence on positively keyed items will balance acquiescence on negatively keyed items, but there are no widely accepted solutions to central tendency and social desirability biases.

Financial Innovation

Besides, NSCs express no or low levels of MHC molecules, which obviate the problem of immunorejection [ 57].

BioMed Research International

However, this does not obviate the problem that not all quality can be observed, and skimping on quality and intensity of treatment may occur [ 28].

BMC Health Services Research

Pflieger et al. (16) recently published an approach using commercial iTRAQ reagents both to assess and to obviate the problem of less than complete dephosphorylation by the phosphatase.

Analytical Chemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"He has ordered studying the start of direct flights between Iran and the United States in order to obviate the problems facing the Iranian expatriates' visits," Torkan was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.

The Guardian

The ultrasound drug delivery field is actively designing new agents that would obviate the problems of just using microbubbles for drug delivery.

Ultrasonics

In STE, various biological and synthetic materials are combined with in vitro-cultured cells to generate functional tissues, which can obviate the problems associated with using skin grafts.

Tissue Engineering Made Easy

Toward this end a temporary ureteral drainage stent capable of dissolving spontaneously was developed to obviate the problems associated with more commonly used stents.

Duke University

Hence, in order to engineer the macromolecules and also to obviate the problems associated with the mechanical property and biocompatibility of biomaterials, we attempted to cross-link the parent molecule with a suitable cross-linker through non-covalent interactions.

Progress in Biomaterials

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obviate the problem" when you want to convey a sense of proactively eliminating a potential difficulty before it fully develops. For stronger impact consider stronger synonyms.

Common error

While grammatically sound, using "obviate the problem" in casual conversation can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "avoid the problem" or "prevent it" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obviate the problem" functions as a verb phrase, where "obviate" acts as the verb and "the problem" as the direct object. It signifies the action of preventing or eliminating a problem.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

66.66%

News & Media

33.33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obviate the problem" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that signifies the act of preventing or eliminating a problem. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is more common in formal contexts such as science and news media, and less so in casual settings. Related phrases like "eliminate the problem" or "prevent the problem" offer simpler alternatives, especially for informal communication. Remember that while "obviate the problem" works well in appropriate contexts, consider your audience and the overall tone when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eliminate the problem

Focuses on complete removal of the problem, suggesting a more direct action.

prevent the problem

Emphasizes stopping the problem before it occurs, highlighting a proactive approach.

avoid the problem

Suggests steering clear of circumstances that would cause the problem, implying evasion.

remove the problem

Indicates taking the problem away, either physically or metaphorically, to resolve it.

resolve the problem

Focuses on finding a solution to the problem, often implying a more complex process.

address the problem

Highlights tackling the problem head-on, often suggesting an attempt to deal with its root causes.

counteract the problem

Implies acting against the problem's effects or influence, lessening its impact.

mitigate the problem

Emphasizes reducing the severity or impact of the problem, but not necessarily eliminating it.

circumvent the problem

Implies finding a way around the problem, often using indirect means.

sidestep the problem

Suggests skillfully avoiding the problem, often through clever maneuvering.

FAQs

How can I use "obviate the problem" in a sentence?

You can use "obviate the problem" to describe actions taken to prevent a problem from occurring, such as, "Implementing stricter security measures will "eliminate the problem" of unauthorized access."

What are some alternatives to "obviate the problem"?

Some alternatives to "obviate the problem" include "prevent the problem", "avoid the problem", or "eliminate the problem", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is "obviate the problem" formal or informal?

"Obviate the problem" is generally considered a more formal phrase. In informal settings, simpler terms like "avoid the problem" or "prevent it" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "obviate the problem" and "solve the problem"?

"Obviate the problem" means to prevent the problem from occurring, while "solve the problem" means to find a solution to a problem that already exists. For example, good design can "obviate the problem" of difficult assembly, while a clever engineer can "solve the problem" of a broken machine.