OBVIATE

to anticipate and make unnecessary

/do away with
SYN - eliminate, rid of

prevent the occurence of
SYN - avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, head off, stave off, ward off
ANT - necessitate, need, require

"The criminals had thought they had the perfet plan, but they hadn't counted on the ability of the buildings security to obviate the situation."

"Whereas hurricanes used to have a damaging effect on coastlines the technologies introduced in the middle of the 21st century have allowed humans to obviate them entirely."

"His adroit leadership was marked by the ability to obviate the many troubles that had plagued previous presidencies."