avert vs ward off

avert and ward off both are verbs.

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

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

avert and ward 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, head off, obviate, stave off.

avert (verb)	ward off (verb)
turn away or aside	avert, turn away, or repel
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