fend

verb

ˈfend How to pronounce fend (audio)
Definition of fendnext
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 fend Communities lacking moratoriums are left to fend for themselves without the necessary time and resources to appropriately prepare. — Jorge Aguilar, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026 The kick seemed to work in fending the bear off, and the creature left with its cubs. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 Video captured the bear charging toward Koerwitz, who fended it off with bear spray. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Bret, Thom, and Susan are all at the stables to support Debbie — and because getting their licenses has given them unprecedented freedom, with parents who have essentially left their children to fend for themselves. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fend
  1. protect
  2. defend
  3. safeguard
  4. shield
  5. guard
Verb
  • Brughmans’ work outside of protecting his own goal is equally interesting.
    — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Rice lipids and jojoba oil seal in moisture and replenish the skin barrier, while 2% ectoin soothes redness and protects against water loss.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of protect
Verb
  • The Bills believe in Bernard and have described his 2025 season as an injury that derailed his entire year, though there were some run-defending holes in his game before last season.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The last episode ended with Heather sloppily approaching Lisa while Lisa’s Ultimate Girls Trip buddies hovered on the sidelines, ready to defend their new friend.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • In 1995, after Selena’s tragic death at the hands of Yolanda Saldivar, the former president of her fan club, Abraham dedicated his life to safeguarding her legacy and overseeing primary control over her estate.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The alleged corruption occurred between 2019-24 while Hédouville headed the Office of Citizen Protection, the government agency charged with safeguarding human rights.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of safeguard
Verb
  • Scores of immigrants from El Salvador who have been shielded from deportation for decades because of ongoing violence and natural disasters in their homeland could now face removal from the United States after their benefits expire Wednesday.
    — Ted Hesson, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Particularly after Venice’s break with the papacy in the early seventeenth century, the government went to great lengths to shield judaizers from the Inquisition’s glare and recast the Ghetto as a refuge.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • Cowboys guard Tyler Smith will miss four to six weeks with a thumb injury.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • One year later, after being combative and guarded in his rookie season, that armor appears to be coming off.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of guard

Phrases Containing fend

Browse Nearby Words

fencing (in)
fend
fended
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fend. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of patina

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All