ward away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ward away" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the action of preventing something undesirable from approaching or affecting someone. Example: "She carried a charm to ward away evil spirits during the festival."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

He waved his hand before his face in the night as though he were trying to ward away trouble.

The New Yorker

Dangling from all four corners of the house are pieces of carbolic soap to ward away snakes".

The Guardian

Some of the animal forms which include tigers, birds, snakes, dragons, cicadas, and water buffalo have been thought to represent shamanistic familiars or emblems that ward away evil.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Draconian though it may sound, requesting that returnees assist in any "ward away" campaign, as a condition of their reintegration assistance, would make sense.

Independent

The president, he said, simply chuckled a Reagan chuckle, pinched some nearby salt, and threw it over his shoulder, as if to ward away the hubris.

The New York Times

Some carried joss sticks to freshen the air – but they could not ward away a deep stench of blood and disinfectant.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

It also wards away an essential ingredient for art: real stakes.

The New Yorker

"And now a few wards away in that same prison, some of the former president's most senior deputies are held for corruption".

The Guardian

Cedar chips may leave behind strong odors of their own when finished, but these odors are usually capable of warding away the smoke smell.

WikiHow

What a penalty shootout it was too, a moment of dramatic grace for Neuer, who saved twice, and seemed to ward off and wave away two more.

The Guardian - Sport

"Even a quick restart of sales might not be enough to ward off a serious shift away from Toyota".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ward away" when you want to emphasize the act of actively preventing something undesirable, often with a sense of protection or defense.

Common error

Avoid using "ward away" passively. It's not simply about something not happening; it's about taking action to prevent it. Instead of saying "The problem just warded away", consider "They implemented measures to "ward away" the problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "ward away" functions primarily as a verb of prevention. It describes an action taken to prevent something undesirable from approaching or affecting someone or something. Ludwig AI provides examples where it's used in contexts of averting trouble or evil.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

24%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ward away" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe the act of preventing something undesirable from approaching. While not as common as alternatives like "fend off" or "repel", it's a useful phrase when emphasizing active protection. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides examples across various contexts, including news, general writing, and scientific discussions. The phrase maintains a neutral tone and is best used when emphasizing a proactive effort to prevent a potential threat.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep at bay

Emphasizes maintaining a distance to prevent something from approaching.

fend off

Implies defending against an attack or unwanted advance.

stave off

Suggests preventing something negative, often temporarily.

repel

This single word conveys a direct and forceful action of driving something back or away.

protect against

Highlights the act of shielding from potential harm.

hold off

Suggests delaying or postponing something undesirable.

avert

Focuses on preventing something negative from happening.

deter

Focuses on discouraging or preventing an action through fear or doubt.

deflect

Suggests turning something aside from its intended course.

prevent

A general term for stopping something from happening.

FAQs

What does "ward away" mean?

"Ward away" means to prevent something undesirable from approaching or affecting someone or something. It implies an action taken to deflect or repel a potential threat or negative influence.

How can I use "ward away" in a sentence?

You can use "ward away" in a sentence like this: "She carried a charm to "ward away" evil spirits during the festival", or "The company implemented new security measures to "ward away" potential cyberattacks".

What can I say instead of "ward away"?

You can use alternatives like "fend off", "repel", or "keep at bay" depending on the context.

Is "ward off" the same as "ward away"?

While similar, "ward off" generally implies deflecting something, whereas "ward away" suggests actively keeping something at a distance. "Ward off" is slightly more common.