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

Use bulb cages or buried layers of hardware cloth to repel rodents, and try adding tree guards and fencing to fend off larger animals.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026
The coating allows fibers to repel liquids—even alcohol—without surface treatments by adding during melt processing.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of repel

Verb

Anthropic researchers demonstrated this weakness by using Claude to generate seemingly innocent stories that taught other models to resist human oversight.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Judges failing to award fees and government agencies unreasonably resisting paying them make the problem even worse.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of resist

Verb

The fall 2026 collection from Taller Marmo turned back the clock with its designs, creating dresses and gowns inspired by film noir, Old Hollywood glamour and 1920s evening wear, a fit for her club-crooner aesthetic.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
The clocks haven’t turned back yet, but the mood shift is already underway.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of turn back

Verb

And the Joe’s devotion to its customers won’t wane, Sawitz said, adding that the restaurant will never turn away anybody who shows up at the back door desperate for something to eat, a longtime unwritten rule.

— Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
If that fast-casual look doesn’t turn away customers, then looking like your peers becomes acceptable.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of turn away

Verb

Atlanta will now try to stave off elimination at home Thursday in Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7 back at Chase Center on Saturday.

— Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Kalen DeBoer's program staved off its first three-game losing streak since 2007, Nick Saban's first season as coach.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of fend (off)

verb

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