fend off
phrasal verb
fended off; fending off; fends off
: to defend oneself against (someone or something)
They succeeded in fending off the attack/attackers.
They have had to fend off allegations of voter fraud.
Examples of fend off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Brewers are also trying to fend off the Philadelphia Phillies (89-61), who gained a playoff berth on Sunday, for the best overall record in MLB and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
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John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In a contest where the 49ers scored touchdowns on five straight drives in the game’s final 30 minutes, Charlotte (1-2) needed every last yard to fend off the Hawks’ explosive offense, which answered nearly every time Harrell and the 49ers’ offense found the end zone.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2025
This lightweight, silky formula pairs broad-spectrum sun protection with antioxidant-rich white tea to help fend off free radicals and environmental stressors that can accelerate visible aging.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
The two candidates fended off relatively minor opposition to advance from the nonpartisan blanket primary, in which the two top-performing candidates move on to compete in the general election.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fend off
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John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In a contest where the 49ers scored touchdowns on five straight drives in the game’s final 30 minutes, Charlotte (1-2) needed every last yard to fend off the Hawks’ explosive offense, which answered nearly every time Harrell and the 49ers’ offense found the end zone.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2025
This lightweight, silky formula pairs broad-spectrum sun protection with antioxidant-rich white tea to help fend off free radicals and environmental stressors that can accelerate visible aging.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
The two candidates fended off relatively minor opposition to advance from the nonpartisan blanket primary, in which the two top-performing candidates move on to compete in the general election.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fend off
Cite this Entry
“Fend off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fend%20off. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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