SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
preclude
verb
To prevent something or rule out its possibility.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Prevent or rule out
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPreclude usually removes a possibility. Deter merely discourages, so it is not a reliable substitute when impossibility is intended.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See preclude in use
The narrow doorway would preclude moving the piano inside.
A confirmed closure would preclude use of the largest room on the planned opening night, so the coordinator secured a smaller venue.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license