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What is a word or expression for a problem has effectively gone away because of a larger change that makes the problem no longer a problem?

I'm thinking "obviated" or "made unnecessary," but it sounds awkward to me.

For example: The problem of the dripping faucet I meant to fix was "obviated" by doing a gut renovation (with all new plumbing) of the whole bathroom.

Or: My need to find a ride to the airport was "obviated" by my getting sick and cancelling the whole trip.

Or: I'm not fixing a typo in a certain draft of a document, as it was made unnecessary by having wrote a new draft of the document from scratch.

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    Obviated is the right word, however awkward it may sound. It is high on @JohnLawler's "falutin" scale, however, so it would sound funny if you're talking to the waitress at Denny's. But if you're merely eating at Denny's and talking to people who know what it means, you don't need to feel self-conscious.
    – Robusto
    Feb 22, 2015 at 19:55
  • There are obvious choices that are more common words, including removed and made unnecessary, the latter of which you mentioned. It is not clear just what you are asking for.
    – Drew
    Feb 23, 2015 at 1:41
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    Something doesn't obviate a problem or a need. Something obviates an action, by eliminating the need for it. So in the third example, "obviated" the fixing of the typo. But in the first two examples the problem or need was "eliminated by" (or "subsumed by" or "made irrelevant by") the bigger problem or action. Feb 23, 2015 at 12:15
  • In my opinion, obsolete is a better word that is less archaic and more understood. Feb 24, 2015 at 9:31
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    A relatively common phrase for this situation these days is to declare the earlier problem rendered moot, which includes both solutions which subsume the original and those which cause the original solution to no longer apply for some other reason, as in: "My need to find a ride to the airport was rendered moot by my getting sick and cancelling the whole trip." Hmmm. It has just occurred to me that I should enter this as an answer. I'll do so. Feb 24, 2015 at 9:56

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A relatively common if still somewhat colorful phrase for this situation these days is to declare the earlier problem or proposed solution rendered moot, which includes both solutions which subsume the original and those which cause the original action to no longer apply for some other reason, as in:

My need to find a ride to the airport was rendered moot by my getting sick and cancelling the whole trip.

or

The problem of the dripping faucet I meant to fix was rendered moot by doing a gut renovation (with all new plumbing) of the whole bathroom.

Large portions of the American public will incorrectly believe the second word of this phrase is "mute" instead of "moot", but they will easily understand the phrase regardless.

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    Interesting usage note here.
    – user98955
    Feb 24, 2015 at 10:07
  • That's fascinating, @Amphiteóth (pronunciation?), I hadn't realized the definitions were essentially opposites. Good response, Mark. It took me 3 upvotes just to get my answer above water!
    – user98990
    Feb 24, 2015 at 16:19
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    @Amphiteóth - I'm embarrassed to say, I've used the term in my legal writing to indicate an issue was essentially beyond debate and was quite surprised to see the other articulation, but there it is in Black's Law, first interpretation, though listed as archaic, which isn't a problem for me as I tend to cleave to tradition.
    – user98990
    Feb 24, 2015 at 18:57
  • @LittleEva In the end it may be rendered or made plays a significant part here. Not clear why s.o. didn't just contribute made irrelevant. Anyways, cheers!
    – user98955
    Feb 25, 2015 at 12:10
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    @LittleEva, I'm embarrassed myself to note that I wasn't really aware of the other meaning for moot despite having heard it in legal dramas and the like. I had always assumed the characters were saying an issue was irrelevant or no longer applicable when they were likely saying it was settled. Ah well, one only knows what one knows! Feb 26, 2015 at 7:10
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Subsume verb:

[with object] Include or absorb (something) in something else:

1.Subsume is to absorb, contain or include something into something else.

See, Oxford Dictionary, “subsume” Link

• The task of fixing the dripping faucet was "subsumed" in the renovation of the whole bathroom.

• The problem of fixing all the typos in the original document was subsumed by writing a whole new document.

See, Your Dictionary Link

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Supersede - to take the place of (someone or something that is old, no longer useful, etc.) : to replace (someone or something) (merriam-webster.com)

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Obsolete

The problem was made obsolete with the new technology.

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