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
Both property owners share responsibility for maintenance and appearance of boundary fences, according to Robert Corrao, president of Jan Fence Inc. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026 Repair any gaps beneath existing garden fences and install buried wire around decks, sheds, chicken coops, and crawl spaces. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026 Much of the site meets the city through fences — and not very inspired ones at that. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Outside, intimate outdoor areas separated by partial wooden fences are covered with artificial grass and serve as private patios with furniture and fire pits. — Brian Cicioni, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2026 Just as good fences make good neighbors, good contracts make good partners. — Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 The creature, smaller than a house cat and uniquely round, appeared in social media users’ posts waddling across lawns, fences, and cables around the city. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 So far, fences have gone up and earthmovers are clearing the ground for the project. — Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 The city is also considering protections for the property’s view from Eagle Road, including restrictions on tall fences, dense tree lines and other structures that could obstruct the house. — Noah Daly august 27, Idaho Statesman, 27 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
  • The Chicago Cubs center fielder made an Air Jordan-style catch during Friday’s 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins, banging into a nook where two walls converge at funky loanDepot park.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin broke out of Alcatraz by digging holes in the prison walls using spoons from the cafeteria.
    — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of walls
Verb
  • The feline panleukopenia vaccination also protects cats against two other common viruses — feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Florsheim’s argument has centered on Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine, which protects public rights in navigable waters and the land beneath them.
    — Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of protects
Noun
  • The Air Line Pilots Association wants the secondary barriers added to existing aircraft.
    — Rio Yamat, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
  • There is a conflict between those who still believe in social barriers and those who believe that all actions should be based on a proper calculation of the return on investment.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of barriers
Verb
  • Coach Hudson defends Ricky to Gerry’s face, but privately lectures his daughter about the optics of their close relationship as a female football coach and tells her to put some space between her and Chad (and unknowingly, Russ).
    — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In relation to what one longs for, questions, resists, imagines, or defends.
    — Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of defends
Noun
  • If the story of women’s liberation is often told as one long unlacing of the corset, an early salvo came from the French barricades.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of barricades
Verb
  • Bumble and bumble’s Heat Shield mist is made to be sprayed onto dry hair before a flat iron, curling iron, or other hot tool, providing essential UV protection that shields color.
    — Polly Blitzer, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The death penalty in the state has largely been tied up in litigation over an agreement related to the coronavirus pandemic that defense lawyers contend temporarily shields many death row residents from execution.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of shields
Verb
  • Anthropic closely guards its training data sources, but music publishers think the court should require more transparency.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Liberty guards Marine Johannes and Pauline Astier are both looking forward to the opportunity to represent France during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tournament.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of guards
Verb
  • Summary The federal government traditionally safeguards investors through disclosure, oversight, and enforcement.
    — Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 12 Sep. 2026.

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