to obviate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to obviate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of preventing or eliminating a problem or difficulty. Example: "The new policy was implemented to obviate any potential issues that could arise during the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Congressional statutes tend to obviate the need.

The New York Times

Children's books were rewritten to obviate sexual stereotypes.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A 4-14 record at the age of 37 tends to obviate that.

The New York Times - Sports

Tough measures were implemented that were supposed to obviate the need for external assistance.

The Guardian - Business

Some lawmakers have been scrambling to try to obviate the veto rejection.

The New York Times

They have accordingly developed technology to obviate the need for this movement.

The New Yorker

And the mid-1970s walmostost insane enough to obviate satire entirely.

The Guardian - Film

Having a three-year-old tends to obviate the need for death metal.

The Guardian - Music

But does that give him license to obviate his moral responsibility to his electoral devotees?

The New York Times

We need to know what we want from such devices: Do we want them to obviate problem solving?

The Guardian - Tech

On the Ohio River the original 600-foot lock chambers were lengthened to 1,200 feet to obviate double lockage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to obviate" when you want to convey a sense of proactive prevention, especially in formal writing. It suggests that a measure is being taken to eliminate the need for something before it arises.

Common error

Avoid using "to obviate" in casual conversation or informal writing. Its formality can sound stilted or pretentious in contexts where simpler words like "avoid" or "prevent" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to obviate" primarily functions as an infinitive of purpose. It indicates the reason or intention behind an action, specifically to prevent or eliminate a potential problem or necessity. Ludwig examples show this use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to obviate" serves as an infinitive of purpose, predominantly used in formal and scientific writing to express the intention of preventing or eliminating a potential problem or necessity. With its frequent appearance in reputable sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and scientific journals, it maintains a formal and professional register. While grammatically correct and widely used, it's essential to consider the context and audience, as simpler alternatives like "avoid" or "prevent" may be more suitable in casual settings. Ludwig's AI confirms its correct usage, emphasizing its role in proactive prevention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order to preclude

Replaces "to obviate" with a more formal expression emphasizing prevention.

so as to eliminate

Uses "eliminate" instead of "obviate", focusing on the removal aspect.

with the aim of preventing

Emphasizes the intention behind the action, using "preventing" for clarity.

for the purpose of avoiding

Highlights the avoidance of an undesirable outcome.

to make unnecessary

Focuses on rendering something unnecessary, which is a consequence of obviating it.

in an effort to avert

Uses "avert" to describe the act of turning away or preventing something.

to get rid of

Less formal, focusing on the act of removing something undesirable.

to bypass the need for

Highlights the circumvention of a requirement.

to negate the necessity of

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the nullification of a need.

in order to circumvent

Stresses the act of finding a way around a potential obstacle.

FAQs

How can I use "to obviate" in a sentence?

Use "to obviate" to indicate that you are preventing or eliminating the need for something. For example, "The new software update is designed "to obviate" the need for manual data entry".

What are some alternatives to "to obviate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to avoid", "to eliminate", "to prevent", or "to preclude".

Is it better to say "to obviate the need" or "to avoid the need"?

"To obviate the need" is more formal and suggests a more comprehensive solution, while "to avoid the need" is more general and can imply a simpler workaround. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

What is the difference between "to obviate" and "to mitigate"?

"To obviate" means to prevent or eliminate something entirely, while "to mitigate" means to lessen or reduce the severity of something. Obviating removes the problem, while mitigating reduces its impact.