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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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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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 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 Around the Whipple federal building, the fences and barriers are down. — CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 The Lexington, Kentucky track is known for its gorgeous limestone fences, paddock oaks and a grandstand that looks out over the iconic Bluegrass landscape. — Jill Barth, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Construction fences and barriers are mostly gone, traffic is flowing, pedestrians are strolling and a dozen new businesses have opened along the corridor, with several more on the way. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026 Those whose cattle survived are facing other challenges as the fire destroys fences and grassland. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026 For more than a decade now, European and indeed American politicians have known that real, fake, enhanced, or context-free pictures of migrants jumping fences will immediately create a wave reaction. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 Reuters at the enclave's border saw Moroccan police in riot gear using tear gas to disperse some of the people amassed near the fences. — Michael Francis Gore, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fences
  1. walls
  2. protects
  3. barriers
  4. defends
  5. barricades
  6. shields
  7. guards
  8. safeguards
Noun
  • At the Base of Trees and Shrubs Fences and rock walls aren’t the only structures poison ivy likes to climb.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The greybeards will take on the suicide mission of storming the castle walls, erecting ladders, and invading the city while arrows and rocks rain down on them.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 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
  • Among the ideas are additional bike lanes and barriers to create a buffer between bicycles and cars.
    — James Taylor, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Tombo Banda, managing director of CrossBoundary Energy, said Chinese factories are producing more vehicle s than the domestic market can absorb while exports face mounting barriers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of barriers
Verb
  • Sasa takes on a rape case that strikes close to home, while his friend Kalle defends a client in a gang trial that tests his ideals.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Rolly Romero defends his WBA welterweight title against Teofimo Lopez on August 22, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of defends
Noun
  • Ahead of the weekend’s San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, city workers placed metal barricades and hazard signs around the perimeter to keep the public away from the unstable trees.
    — Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Some pushed against barricades and scuffled with police, who responded by firing tear gas rounds, using water cannon and beating them with batons, TV footage showed.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 11 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
  • Shrine guards flick sticks with ostrich feathers at female pilgrims lingering too long in the shade to try to keep the flow of people moving.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The caterpillar even guards the wasp’s cocoons before eventually dying.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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