FEND OFF Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

fend (off)

verb

Definition of fend (off)

as in to repel

to drive back the herd fended off attacking hyenas

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for fend (off)

Verb

The soldiers were among thousands sent by North Korea to help Russia repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region as part of expanding cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
This natural pest control spray keeps roaches, stink bugs, spiders, ants, centipedes, crickets, and tons of other bugs away thanks to its strong scent that repels them without harsh chemicals.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of repel

Verb

But resist the urge to throw every brightening ingredient at the problem.

— Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026
Attempts to coordinate the different agencies under a central authority to fight organized crime have failed in Congress, where professional associations representing those agencies have resisted anything that would reduce their power.

— MATIAS SPEKTOR, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of resist

Verb

Phetchaburi Road, one of the capital’s busiest, was unusually quiet as vehicles were turned back by high water.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
There’s political polarization and marginalization and the sort of people who want to turn back the clock and have that line of thinking that Ted Kaczynski had.

— Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of turn back

Verb

The report revealed that 85% of providers in the United States experienced moderate or severe staffing challenges in the past year and 55% have had to turn away people in need of care due to inadequate staffing.

— STAT, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
The plane was told to wait for clearance from the Jordanian military and then turned away.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of turn away

Verb

Still, SpaceX made adjustments to the vehicle’s engines to try to stave off such problems, so engineers will likely need to pursue further tweaks.

— Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Paige Bueckers had 21 points and six rebounds for Dallas, which won seven of eight to end the season to earn the seventh seed and will now try to stave off elimination at home.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of stave off

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fending (off)

fend (off)

fends

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“Fend (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fend%20%28off%29. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fend (off)

verb

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