Definitions
- Referring to the act of preventing or avoiding a problem or difficulty before it arises. - Talking about taking measures to eliminate the need for something or make it unnecessary. - Describing the act of removing an obstacle or hindrance in order to achieve a goal.
- Referring to the act of keeping away from something or someone to prevent harm or unpleasantness. - Talking about not engaging in a particular activity or behavior to prevent negative consequences. - Describing the act of evading or escaping from a situation or responsibility.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to preventing or stopping something from happening.
- 2Both words are used to describe actions taken to avoid negative consequences.
- 3Both words can be used in a variety of contexts.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Obviate is often used to describe preventing a specific problem or difficulty, while avoid can refer to a wide range of situations.
- 2Timing: Obviate is proactive and preventative, while avoid is reactive and responsive.
- 3Connotation: Obviate has a more formal and technical connotation, while avoid is more commonly used in everyday language.
- 4Responsibility: Obviate implies taking responsibility and action to prevent something, while avoid can sometimes imply shirking responsibility or evading a situation.
- 5Intensity: Obviate implies a more thorough and complete prevention, while avoid can sometimes imply a partial or temporary avoidance.
Remember this!
Obviate and avoid are both verbs that describe actions taken to prevent negative consequences. However, obviate is more proactive and preventative, often used to describe eliminating the need for something or removing obstacles to achieve a goal. On the other hand, avoid is more reactive and responsive, often used to describe keeping away from something or not engaging in a particular activity to prevent harm or unpleasantness.
