as in protecting
to drive danger or attack away from
learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism
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Recent Examples of fending
Feral populations spring up as result of these self-sustaining domestic animals fending for themselves.
—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Smith later found Cowan lying in a pool of blood and attempted to stop the bleeding while fending the dogs off, per PEOPLE reporting.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Sinner took their first meeting, overwhelming a streaky Jódar in the first set and fending him off for most of the second in a 6-2, 7-6(0) win Wednesday.
—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Those Shahed successes may accrue, at least in part, from the fact that the United States and Israel lack Ukraine’s long experience with fending them off.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Mar. 2026
Oklahoma City was fending without centers Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, but Williams — a third-string big good enough to start on at least a handful of teams — killed Denver with his spacing.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
We're stuck fending for ourselves.
—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Those with mobility issues — many of whom were at nursing homes — were left fending for themselves or relying on a group of Pasadena Transit bus drivers.
—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
Unhoused and fending for herself After Frye graduated from high school, her mother packed up and moved with the rest of family to Orlando.
—
Miami Herald,
23 Dec. 2025
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Smith later found Cowan lying in a pool of blood and attempted to stop the bleeding while fending the dogs off, per PEOPLE reporting.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Sinner took their first meeting, overwhelming a streaky Jódar in the first set and fending him off for most of the second in a 6-2, 7-6(0) win Wednesday.
—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Those Shahed successes may accrue, at least in part, from the fact that the United States and Israel lack Ukraine’s long experience with fending them off.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
24 Mar. 2026
Oklahoma City was fending without centers Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, but Williams — a third-string big good enough to start on at least a handful of teams — killed Denver with his spacing.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
We're stuck fending for ourselves.
—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
Those with mobility issues — many of whom were at nursing homes — were left fending for themselves or relying on a group of Pasadena Transit bus drivers.
—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
Unhoused and fending for herself After Frye graduated from high school, her mother packed up and moved with the rest of family to Orlando.
—
Miami Herald,
23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending
Verb
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The partner of another player, Héctor Bello, died while protecting their toddler, Bello said Saturday on social media.
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Once your car hits 100,000 miles, the manufacturer's warranty is done protecting you.
Verb
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The defending Western Conference champs pick up Quaintance, a defensive-minded bruiser with size and athleticism who projects to be a center or power forward on the next level.
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When the odds opened for the upcoming title fight, the defending champ was a -300 favorite over the +250 challenger.
Verb
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For the past few weeks, the Valkyries’ first-ever All-Star has been anchoring Golden State’s defense in critical moments, guarding opposing bigs and sacrificing offensive opportunities for the sake of scheme.
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Johnson said that he was left shackled to a bed at HCMC for five days, with federal agents guarding him and preventing him from contacting his family.
Verb
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Comprehending a stock’s most significant risks is one aspect; shielding your investments from them is another.
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Not with these linen panels that Malek Barney recommends—the thicker fabric strikes that Goldilocks balance between privacy and natural light, letting sunlight gently filter through while still shielding your space from prying eyes.
Verb
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The focus here is not on withholding information, but on safeguarding the dignity of a child and allowing a grieving family the space and privacy to heal.
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For years, freelance welfare professionals have been trusted with complex safeguarding responsibilities, often supporting vulnerable contributors through emotionally demanding situations.
Cite this Entry
“Fending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fending. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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