avert vs head off

avert and head off both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
avert	No	No	Yes	No
head off	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, avert and head off are synonyms defined as:

avert and head off: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off

Other synonyms of avert include avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, obviate, stave off, ward off.

avert (verb)	head off (verb)
turn away or aside	prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off