fended; fending; fends
1
: defend
2
: to keep or ward off : repel
—often used with off
fend off an invader
3
dialectal British
: to provide for : support
chiefly Scotland
: an effort or attempt especially for oneself
Examples of fend in a Sentence
Verb
learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Once again, the bear lunged at the man and multiple park employees had to fend him off.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Zach Edey finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to help No. 3 Purdue fend off Maryland’s furious second-half charge for a 58-55 victory.
—Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fend
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Verb
Thidarat Homhual, a 37-year-old farmer in the shelter with her family, said her mind is on cows, ducks, four dogs and nine cats left to fend for themselves.
—CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Once again, the bear lunged at the man and multiple park employees had to fend him off.
—Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
But the thought of letting this poor kitten fend for itself was beyond comprehension.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Zach Edey finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to help No. 3 Purdue fend off Maryland’s furious second-half charge for a 58-55 victory.
—Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for fend
Cite this Entry
“Fend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fend. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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