FENDING Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

fending

verb

present participle of fend

as in protecting

to drive danger or attack away from learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism

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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.

Recent Examples of fending The announcement is the latest fallout from the botched handling of the calls on July 27 that left the elderly woman fending for herself against her attacker for more than three hours. — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The kick seemed to work in fending the bear off, and the creature left with its cubs. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 Feral populations spring up as result of these self-sustaining domestic animals fending for themselves. — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 17 June 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending

Verb

Our work touches peoples’ lives by protecting the soil and water on their land.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Commercial decisions become more cautious because protecting the relationship takes precedence.

— Sanjay Ghare, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of protecting

Verb

Over the years, the town was a major post for government forces defending Taiz.

— AHMED AL-HAJ, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Much of the discussion surrounding this week’s game centers around how the Georgia defense will go about defending Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell.

— Connor Riley, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of defending

Verb

At halftime, coaches showed players a clip of Williams, a 6-foot-9 forward who signed on a minimum contract, guarding the ball full court.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
MacPhee positions all 10 outfield players goal-side of the penalty spot, with his best aerial defenders zonally guarding the six-yard box around goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of guarding

Verb

The feels-like temperature was 105 degrees, with umpires chugging water between innings and fans shielding their heads with giveaway towels on a cloudless day.

— Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old fire chief, died immediately while shielding his family from bullets.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of shielding

Verb

Never promoting renewable energy or safeguarding us with stronger regulation.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026
Indeed, protecting the kingdom increasingly means safeguarding not only its territory and airspace, but also the maritime corridors through which its economy reaches global markets.

— John Calabrese, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of safeguarding

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“Fending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fending. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fending

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