[1] : WordNet (r) 2.0

ward off
     v 1: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "let's
          avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation";
          "avert a strike" syn: debar, obviate, deflect, avert,
           head off, stave off, fend off, avoid
     2: avert, turn away, or repel; "ward off danger"
see also:
debar obviate deflect avert head off stave off 
fend off avoid 

[2] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

85 moby thesaurus words for "ward off":
   about the bush, anticipate, avert, bar, beat around, beat back,
   beat off, beg the question, block, brush off, chase, chase away,
   chase off, check, counter, cut, debar, deflect, deter, discourage,
   dishearten, dismiss, dodge, drive away, drive back, duck,
   equivocate, estop, exclude, fence, fend, fend off, forbid,
   foreclose, forestall, hedge, help, hem and haw, hinder,
   hold at bay, hold off, keep at bay, keep from, keep off, obstruct,
   obviate, pack off, parry, preclude, prevent, prohibit, pull away,
   pull back, push back, pussyfoot, put back, put off, rebuff, rebut,
   recoil, refuse, repel, repulse, rule out, save, send away,
   send off, send packing, sheer off, shift, shift off, shrink, shy,
   shy away, shy off, sidestep, snub, spurn, stave off, step aside,
   stop, swerve, thrust back, turn aside, turn back

Blow Off >> B Words
Blow Off, definition of term: Blow Off
blow+off_pag1.html

Bite Off >> B Words
Bite Off, definition of term: Bite Off
bite+off_pag1.html

Better Off >> B Words
Better Off, definition of term: Better Off
better+off_pag1.html

Bear Off >> B Words
Bear Off, definition of term: Bear Off
bear+off_pag1.html

Back Off >> B Words
Back Off, definition of term: Back Off
back+off_pag1.html