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
The thieves broke through multiple fences to gain access to the storage unit. — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 However, the access point to the north side of Friendship Park, situated between the primary and secondary border fences, remains closed. — Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 Homeowners might also have to make some changes to their fences and sheds. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 Homesteading also means practical skills like fixing fences and caring for sick animals, as well as continuing to work when things go wrong and just becoming more capable. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 The 20-track album is certainly a swing for the fences, said Alexis Petridis in The Guardian. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026 Munster resident Ron Alaguer, 38, said storm damage was all around his neighborhood, including uprooted trees and damage to fences and roofs. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026 The agency also suggested replacing combustible fences attached to the home with a noncombustible option. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fences
  1. walls
  2. protects
  3. barriers
  4. defends
  5. barricades
  6. shields
  7. guards
  8. safeguards
Noun
  • Plywood shelves lined the walls, their planks bowed in the middle.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Attesting to his labor is an ovoid pavilion at the exhibition’s center recreating Brancusi’s studio, chock-a-block with his myriad tools and flanked by walls on both sides bearing letters, photographs, and archival items.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of walls
Verb
  • The Constitution protects defendants from being prosecuted for the same crime twice, but Mangione's dueling state and federal cases fall into one of the exceptions for double jeopardy.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Name the goal, keep the message specific, and choose the tone that protects both respect and clarity without closing the door.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of protects
Noun
  • The physical barriers – like walls and fencing – will be more prominent outside the park, according to current plans.
    — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Discover the three invisible barriers that hold back high achievers and how to reframe each situation, with tips from negotiation expert Kwame Christian.
    — Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of barriers
Verb
  • Headlining the event, Gustavo Trujillo defends his BKB Heavyweight title against Mark O'Neil, bringing an impressive 8-0 promotional record with all first-round knockouts.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The filing also defends a witness-tampering charge involving Robinson's roommate and an allegation that Robinson committed a violent offense in the presence of a child.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of defends
Noun
  • Farmers blocked the highways leading into the city while demonstrators erected barricades throughout Cochabamba, occupied the central plaza, and halted transportation and commerce.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Officers pointed guns, sirens were sounded, and barricades went up at the gate entrance, KEYT reported.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of barricades
Verb
  • Homeowners selling a primary residence who meet certain IRS conditions can qualify for a tax break, known as the Section 121 exclusion, that shields up to $250,000 of profits for single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly.
    — Annie Nova,Sarah Agostino,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Banning corporate cross-border stablecoins shields Pretoria’s currency controls at the direct expense of corporate productivity.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of shields
Verb
  • Hal Jordan is the chief Green Lantern of planet Earth at this time, part of an intergalactic policing organization that guards sectors of the cosmos.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, on the neighboring field, Purdy had finished his initial reps by the time the 49ers’ offense, particularly guards Robert Jones and Dominick Puni, got into a scrum with the Titans.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of guards
Verb
  • The addition of Skubal further safeguards them at a time when Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are working their way back from injuries and Justin Wrobleski has already surpassed his career high in innings.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The vault safeguards more than 1,000 historic objects set with over 22,000 gemstones, while conference sessions will take place immediately outside it, giving attendees ample opportunity to explore the collection.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 25 July 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 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fences for Spanish Speakers

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