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

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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 fend Just opened the door and dove right in on his own, leaving his wife to fend for herself behind him. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 When Sinner held a set point in the third set, Kecmanović produced extraordinary athleticism to fend him off at the net. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 29 June 2026 While some owners may assume the birds can simply fend for themselves, wildlife officials say that's often not the case. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Iran largely left Hezbollah to fend for itself during much of an earlier 2024 war. — Sam Metz, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fend
  1. protect
  2. defend
  3. safeguard
  4. shield
  5. guard
Verb
  • Across more than 400,000 acres, water, fire, peat and time continue to shape an intact wetland, reminding us that conservation is about protecting the natural systems that sustain life itself.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 27 July 2026
  • Name the conflict plainly, offer realistic timing, and protect the commitment that matters most today.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
Definition of protect
Verb
  • The admission was astonishing after his defense team had spent years diligently defending him against the charges.
    — Emily Smith, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • In a year where the quality of his car has made any thought of defending his title seem distant, this was a race where Norris looked every bit a world champion.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of defend
Verb
  • To safeguard against these abuses of power, democracies like the UK and US have hearings, committees, and other measures to hold their intelligence bodies accountable, said Shetler-Jones.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • The Secret Service’s actual procedures turn out to be more like guidelines that can be discarded if the president is sufficiently angry—which, from the standpoint of safeguarding democracy, constitutes a fairly concerning loophole.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of safeguard
Verb
  • The decision, at least for now, shielded Fauci from answering questions that could expose him to accusations of lying under oath.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • On June 10, Abbott sent out a letter ordering state regulators to shield Texans from the electricity costs related to data centers.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • The album daisy-chains different ideas together across seven tracks with the kind of freedom that Zaks can only achieve with sufficient haze to guard his process.
    — H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
  • This being Hollywood, however, Bamford is guarded over praise as its can be short-lived and fame and fortune can’t make up for ongoing struggles.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fend for Spanish Speakers

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