fend (off)

verb

Definition of fend (off)next
as in to repel
to drive back the herd fended off attacking hyenas

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fend (off)
  1. repel
  2. resist
  3. turn back
  4. repulse
  5. turn away
  6. stave off
Verb
  • The first North Korean deployment began in the Kursk region in October 2024, to repel a Ukrainian incursion, the first on Russian soil since the Nazis.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The drawback of using essential oils to repel flies is that their efficacy is short-lived.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • Mark Carney drew international attention as Canada’s prime minister by warning that middle powers must resist economic coercion by more powerful countries.
    — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But once those opportunities have been funded, management should resist the temptation to pursue lower-quality projects simply to use available cash.
    — Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Then, the pressure is released so that DME turns back into a gas, leaving the water in the tank.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The fire turned back into California late Thursday morning, burning in Lassen County just above the Sierra County line, fire maps showed.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Philly may be shedding its second-fiddle status, but it remains entirely repulsed by frauds and underachievers.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Hugo Lloris turned away one shot for LAFC (10-7-5), which was coming off back-to-back 1-0 losses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, among the reasons that DeMar DeRozan turned away from the Heat might have been the writing on the wall that Klay would take that final Heat starting spot.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of turn away
Verb
  • After working around the clock for the better part of a week toward an interim bilateral trade deal, trade officials from the United States and Canada may have reached a consensus that will stave off a fresh round of punishing tariffs.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • But Washington cannot stave off a transition to a new regional order by simply pretending that nothing has changed.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of stave off
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.

Browse Nearby Words

fending (off)
fend (off)
fends
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Cite this Entry

“Fend (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fend%20%28off%29. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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