ward off vs head off

ward off and head off both are verbs.

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

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

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

ward off (verb)	head off (verb)
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