as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
a place of refuge where the settlers could forfend themselves from attack
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forfend
What’s non-negotiable is that it must be made using a kettle, never — heaven forfend — a microwave.
—
Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
For people who spend too much time debating politics or surfing the internet -- or, heaven forfend, doing both at the same time -- engagement with the real world can present something of a ...
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 23 May 2024
In the United States, instead of building more houses inside the old circle (or, heaven forfend, even closer together and near the places people go), people have built houses even further away.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 30 Dec. 2021
But is Twitter outrage (or, heaven forfend, praise) a useful metric for audience engagement?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2021
Heaven forfend!
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 3 July 2020
And of course the president says oh, my gosh, heaven forfend that poor Omarosa would have to go.
—Fox News, 14 Aug. 2018
Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
For people who spend too much time debating politics or surfing the internet -- or, heaven forfend, doing both at the same time -- engagement with the real world can present something of a ...
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 23 May 2024
In the United States, instead of building more houses inside the old circle (or, heaven forfend, even closer together and near the places people go), people have built houses even further away.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 30 Dec. 2021
But is Twitter outrage (or, heaven forfend, praise) a useful metric for audience engagement?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2021
Heaven forfend!
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 3 July 2020
And of course the president says oh, my gosh, heaven forfend that poor Omarosa would have to go.
—Fox News, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forfend
Verb
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Frank wanted to sign another senior centre-back in the summer to protect Van de Ven and Romero, who both missed large chunks of last season with muscle issues.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Money that could strengthen communities or fund innovation instead sits idle, protected by leverage and loopholes.—
Scott Ellis,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Eric, 41, defended the exchange in multiple interviews, touting his family's real estate projects in Indonesia.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
-
John Stamos is defending his former Full House costar Lori Loughlin for her part in the 2019 college admissions scandal, blaming her ex-husband Mossimo Giannulli.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The complaint includes causes of action based on the Ohio Constitution, and specifically safeguards for freedom of speech, equal protection and due course of law.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Other police accountability organizations, First Amendment advocates, local attorneys and a Bay Area state senator have all railed against the move by local police departments to shield their radio chatter.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Cohen, like other prosecutors who commit intentional misconduct are shielded – entirely.—
Micah Kimball,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The federal investigation heightened the public’s scrutiny of city officials who worked closely with the former mayor, including Duffey, who had overseen the Public Works Department when the city sought a new security contractor to guard City Hall and other municipal facilities.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
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To the right lay the harbor, its narrow entrance guarded by the grim Morro Castle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forfend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfend. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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