head off vs avert

head off and avert both are verbs.

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

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

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

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

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