as in protecting
to drive danger or attack away from
learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fending
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
The original monster-fending crew work in newer ways to defend not only their hometown, Hawkins, Indiana, but the entire world as the Upside Down tries to break through, once again.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025
The footage showcases William Franklyn-Mille in the role of Washington, fighting through intense battles in the French and Indian War and fending for himself in tense military meetings.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Fighting off predators, fending for food, and living in rugged terrain with harsh conditions – this was not a means of living for the weak.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Lithuania is fending without Domantas Sabonis, Matas Buzelis, and Kasparas Jakucionas this summer, leaving Denver backup center Jonas Valanciunas as the centerpiece of the roster.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
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
The original monster-fending crew work in newer ways to defend not only their hometown, Hawkins, Indiana, but the entire world as the Upside Down tries to break through, once again.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 28 Nov. 2025
The footage showcases William Franklyn-Mille in the role of Washington, fighting through intense battles in the French and Indian War and fending for himself in tense military meetings.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Fighting off predators, fending for food, and living in rugged terrain with harsh conditions – this was not a means of living for the weak.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Lithuania is fending without Domantas Sabonis, Matas Buzelis, and Kasparas Jakucionas this summer, leaving Denver backup center Jonas Valanciunas as the centerpiece of the roster.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending
Verb
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For Boos, his efforts with the association over the last quarter century have been aimed at protecting the Wolf Lake watershed, and helping bring people together over the state line to further that goal.—
Paul Eisenberg,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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But two German rifle cartridges with iron bullets suggest that Jews hid from the Nazis in this difficult to navigate terrain, further, if not poetically, attesting to the protective ambiance of the forests of Włodawa, Poland, preserving, if not protecting history and also human life.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Celtics went cold as the half wound down, scoring just five points in the final six minutes, and had trouble defending the full-speed Antetokounmpo drives that made up most of Milwaukee’s offense.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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Comedian Funches spent numerous episodes defending his honor as a faithful, as the other players nit-picked his actions and reserved demeanor.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Among the category winners were stunning photographs including the guns of a Japanese Navy wreck, a female octopus lovingly guarding her eggs and the moment clownfish eggs hatch.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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The latter came after a Monarchs’ player went down hard while guarding the post.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two of her boyfriend’s children were in the car at the time of the shooting, and Johnson died after shielding them from gunfire, her family said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Feb. 2026
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The use of face coverings by federal agents has intensified intimidation and eroded trust by shielding agents from identification and accountability.—
Eric Henderson,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Our work is complex and consequential and includes recruiting and training thousands of election judges, managing voting equipment and ballots, and safeguarding every vote cast.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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Coventry said at a news conference last week that the IOC has a safeguarding unit that monitors the organization’s social media platforms for hateful messages.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fending. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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