obviated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obviated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has been made unnecessary or avoided, often in a formal context. Example: "The new safety measures obviated the need for additional training sessions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They now hold 99 seats to the Democrats' 51.The need for bipartisanship has been obviated.

The Economist

And the reliance on interest-rate moves as not only the primary but essentially exclusive tool of monetary policy meant that the Fed wasn't using expectations management to augment interest-rate cuts (which might have allowed it to get more of a bang for a given cut, and could therefore have obviated the need to go all the way down to 1%).

The Economist

Political scientists point to the prevalence in the Arab world of "rentier" states, where government control of resources such as oil has obviated any need for rulers to gain the consent of the ruled.

The Economist

He found comfort in hierarchy, which obviated the need to be self-motivating and take risks.

The Economist

Meanwhile, efficiency experts chime in that some share of the state's growing needs could be obviated by tighter standards.Jobs are a key consideration.

The Economist

AN INSIGHTFUL new paper reads in part:One of the major weaknesses of observational data is the possibility of bias, including selection bias and reporting bias, which can be obviated largely by using randomised controlled trials.

The Economist

This emphasis on strict preconditions and exclusions has been a major contribution to the subject of brain-stem death, and it has obviated the need for ancillary investigations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Barring any complications, the need for the patient to remain overnight in the hospital is obviated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The cosmonauts' tours of duty would be more lonely because upgrades to the Soyuz in its new guise it was called Soyuz T allowed it to remain in space for six months, which obviated the need for frequent visitors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This action by the president obviated the confusion experienced in World War I when more than 20 agencies investigated security in the United States.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In addition, he created designs for such buildings as the Chicago Metropolitan Corrections Center (1975)—a concrete tower whose irregularly spaced 15-cm (6-inch) slit windows obviated the need for bars and made it resemble a computer punch card and helped redesign the city's lakefront.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "obviated" to indicate that something has been made unnecessary or has been prevented from occurring, often through proactive measures. Ensure the context clearly shows what need or problem was removed or avoided.

Common error

Avoid using "obviated" when something is merely reduced or lessened, rather than completely eliminated. "Obviated" implies a complete removal of the need or problem.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "obviated" is as the past tense or past participle of the verb 'obviate'. It indicates that something has been made unnecessary or prevented from happening. As demonstrated by Ludwig, the term is often used in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Encyclopedias

31%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "obviated" is a verb typically used in its past tense or past participle form to indicate that something has been made unnecessary or prevented. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used in formal writing, particularly in news, encyclopedias and scientific contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for formal settings and should be used accurately to reflect the complete removal of a need, as opposed to merely lessening it. Consider using alternatives like "eliminated the need for" or "made unnecessary" in less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Made unnecessary

Focuses on the result of making something not needed.

Eliminated the need for

Highlights the removal of a requirement.

Rendered unnecessary

Similar to 'made unnecessary' but with a slightly more formal tone.

Precluded

Implies preventing something from happening or being necessary.

Averted

Focuses on preventing something negative from occurring.

Removed the necessity of

Directly states the removal of a need.

Prevented the need for

Highlights the prevention of a requirement.

Made redundant

Indicates that something is no longer required due to duplication.

Circumvented

Suggests finding a way around a need or obstacle.

forestalled

Implies preventing something by acting ahead of time.

FAQs

How is "obviated" typically used in a sentence?

The word "obviated" is used to indicate that something has been made unnecessary or prevented. For example, 'The new security system "obviated" the need for night guards.'

What are some alternatives to "obviated"?

Some alternatives to "obviated" include "made unnecessary", "eliminated the need for", or "rendered unnecessary". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "obviated" a formal word?

Yes, "obviated" is generally considered a formal word. In less formal contexts, alternatives like "removed the need for" or "prevented" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "obviated" and "mitigated"?

"Obviated" means to completely remove or prevent something, while "mitigated" means to lessen or reduce the severity of something. If a problem is "mitigated", it is still present but less severe. If it is "obviated", it is completely gone.