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
  • Ukrainian drone defenses, minefields, and artillery effectively repelled the attack, inflicting heavy losses including seven tanks and over 150 casualties.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Plants that will help repel pests that are harmful to jalapeños include basil, garlic, chives, rosemary, marigolds, and onions.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 28 July 2026
Definition of repel
Verb
  • Once there, give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adapt to the darkness and resist checking your phone.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The barrel-leg silhouette gives them a sleeker shape, while the mid-weight fabric feels soft and resists wrinkles.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of resist
Verb
  • Paige turned back around to find Nikki Bella hitting her with a clothesline.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities used water cannons, tear gas and warning shots to try to turn back migrants.
    — Sergio Rodrigo Ruíz, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • 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
  • Plenty of people bought it, plenty were repulsed by it.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • Grassroots groups that help young people turn away from gun violence recently worked with Junior Cee Niko-Semos to build his résumé.
    — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Mali then turned away from its traditional Western partners to Russia — first to the Wagner Group, a private organization that acted as Russia’s diplomatic proxy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Definition of turn away
Verb
  • Standouts include prebiotics and probiotics to help balance the scalp biome, salicylic acid to slough away dry skin and stave off flakiness, and biotin to support thickness once growth kicks into gear.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The summer of 2025 was consumed by Newcastle (unsuccessfully) staving off interest in Alexander Isak.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 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 7 Aug. 2026.

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