fended (off)

verb

past tense of fend (off)
as in repulsed
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 fended (off)
  1. repulsed
  2. repelled
  3. resisted
  4. turned back
  5. turned away
Verb
  • Young people just aren’t interested, partly because they’re repulsed by bodily fluids.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • His recent comments didn’t favor the Browns fanbase, and many Cleveland fans seem viscerally repulsed by him.
    — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of repulsed
Verb
  • Some microbiomes attracted the skeeters; others repelled them.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The narrator, though curious to speak herself, is finally repelled.
    — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of repelled
Verb
  • Baghdad has sought to bring weapons held by non-state groups under government control, but some of the most influential militias have resisted disarming.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Christian had refused to take his insulin and resisted going to the hospital, said Jennifer Trainor, the manager of Logos House.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of resisted
Verb
  • The two giggled momentarily before Quiñonez turned back and answered candidly.
    — Jake McCreven, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Tight end Travis Kelce looks like he’s turned back the clock for Kansas City, which is running the ball well.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of turned back
Verb
  • The plane was told to wait for clearance from the Jordanian military and then turned away.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • While customers drawn by the deal monopolized tables to gorge on order after order of shrimp, restaurants ran out of shrimp and turned away regular customers.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of turned away
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

fended for oneself
fended (off)
fender
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fended (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fended%20%28off%29. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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