avoidable

comparative more avoidable · superlative most avoidable

1. Capable of being vacated; liable to be annulled or made invalid; voidable.

   Synonyms: annullable, voidable

2. Capable of being avoided, shunned, or escaped.

   The minister confessed that many of the deaths were avoidable.

   2 more examples

   Beyond the avoidable deaths that are already visible, something ominous is happening below the surface in crisis zones.

   2026 February 8, Jeremy Konyndyk, “The Aftermath of Feeding America’s Credibility Into the Woodchipper”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Feb 2026

   For their part, Europeans say they are not wavering from their decision not to get involved in a war they believe was not necessary, that they were not consulted on, and which now has triggered an avoidable global economic crisis.

   2026 April 5, Howard LaFranchi, “Trump’s war in Iran puts new strain on alliances. Why this time it’s different.”, in The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Massachusetts: Christian Science Publishing Society, →ISSN, →OCLC

   Synonyms: evitable

plural avoidables

1. Something that can or should be avoided.

   Though Mrs Golson re-appeared regularly at the Twyborns', she was on my list of avoidables from the night of the corked moustache until she sprang upon us yesterday.

   1980, Patrick White, The Twyborn Affair, page 38