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
Former Biden administration official Gina Ortiz Jones has won a runoff election in San Antonio’s mayoral race, fending off a Republican opponent that the GOP hoped could pull off an upset, Decision Desk HQ projects.
—
Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 June 2025
Sutton Massey led the way with nine kills for O’Fallon (32-7), which needed to fend off five match points Tuesday against Lincoln-Way East to win 23-25, 21-29, 25-21 in the sectional final.
Finley, meanwhile, shares setting duties with senior right-side hitter Teresi and the two are clicking.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
Novak Djokovic’s 41-shot rally to fend off Alexander Zverev just before midnight made good visuals and got Mauresmo off the hook to some extent.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Her service included time spent volunteering at places like Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, but for many in Connecticut, her greatest public service was in drawing a line along the East Coast to fend off the Lakers’ efforts to poach her husband last June.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for fend off
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Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 June 2025
Sutton Massey led the way with nine kills for O’Fallon (32-7), which needed to fend off five match points Tuesday against Lincoln-Way East to win 23-25, 21-29, 25-21 in the sectional final.
Finley, meanwhile, shares setting duties with senior right-side hitter Teresi and the two are clicking.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
Novak Djokovic’s 41-shot rally to fend off Alexander Zverev just before midnight made good visuals and got Mauresmo off the hook to some extent.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Her service included time spent volunteering at places like Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, but for many in Connecticut, her greatest public service was in drawing a line along the East Coast to fend off the Lakers’ efforts to poach her husband last June.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 4 June 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 12 Jun. 2025.
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