fences 1 of 2

noun

plural of fence
as in walls
a physical object that blocks the way the only way to prevent motorists from trying to use that unsafe bridge is to put a fence across the road leading to it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fences

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of fence
as in protects
to drive danger or attack away from had worked as a bodyguard, fencing a number of pop stars at big events

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fences
Noun
Meanwhile, North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, tactical roads, anti-tank walls and other fortifications to what's already one of the world's most heavily armed borders. — Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026 Police said surveillance video showed one of the shooters chase down and fire at one of the victims, then both suspects were seen climbing privacy fences along Lockridge Avenue, according to court documents. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Now, everyone just swings for the fences and all too often winds up striking out. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, anti-tank barriers and other fortifications to what’s already one of the world’s most heavily armed borders as Kim Jong Un pushes a hard line toward Seoul. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 The fences with razor wire along the border, erected by Orbán in 2015 to keep out migrants and asylum seekers, will also stay in place. — Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 The fences that separate the dry fields and the doors that allow you through them. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026 They are usually found on tree trunks and branches but can also form on outdoor furniture, fences or homes. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Like every Lucy project, there are also swing-for-the-fences samples, of the kinds of old, viral songs that create communities of nostalgic yearners in their YouTube comments. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fences
  1. walls
  2. protects
  3. barriers
  4. defends
  5. barricades
  6. shields
  7. guards
  8. safeguards
Noun
  • Meanwhile, North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, tactical roads, anti-tank walls and other fortifications to what's already one of the world's most heavily armed borders.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • From Mojave Ghost to Bal D’Afrique, its scents line the fragrance walls of the industry’s most fabulous faces, practically fly off retailers’s virtual shelves, and admittedly, help set the standard of what an indie brand could be.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of walls
Verb
  • The lawsuit argues the change violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it was adopted without explanation and the First Amendment, which protects lawyers' ability to advise people of their legal rights and seek prospective clients.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The arrangement does not grant Indigenous peoples ownership of the sea or seabed, but protects the area’s ancestral uses, including fishing, shellfish and seaweed gathering, as well as access to sacred sites and areas used for navigation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of protects
Noun
  • Yet when a safety issue arises, competitive barriers come down.
    — Dennis Speigel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As with many maturing technologies, experts say wellness devices have become cheaper and easier to produce, lowering the barriers to entry.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of barriers
Verb
  • But Thomas chooses Vision’s side, and finally defends his dream-dad instead of blaming him.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … HOLLYWOOD DIVIDE — 'Nobody Wants This' creator defends show after star accuses Israel of 'genocide'.
    — , FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of defends
Noun
  • Officials also closed barricades at site entrances to incoming traffic.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Before long, the barricades lay tossed aside and the tents within went up in smoke, along with Vucic's power.
    — JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of barricades
Verb
  • His broader indictment was directed at the incentives governing the technology industry and Section 230, which largely shields social media companies from liability for content posted on their sites.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Cold-Sensitive Perennials Plants that struggle with low temperatures in your area can benefit from a mulch layer that shields their roots from extreme cold.
    — Macie Stump, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of shields
Verb
  • Along with Adebayo, guards Pelle Larsson (illness) and Dru Smith (right calf strain) weren’t available for the Heat on Wednesday.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The router comes with Advanced Router Protection, which guards your router, and a 30-day trial for Netgear Armor Security.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of guards
Verb
  • Huang wants a financing and creative setup that safeguards Yen’s voice and the film’s Taiwanese character.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Nearly everyone safeguards their former glory, earned or not.
    — Ryan Chapman, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of safeguards

Browse Nearby Words

fencers
fences
fences (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Fences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fences. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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