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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending

Verb

Kenya has until recently been widely recognized for rebuilding its elephant population from historic lows to more than 36,000 individuals by reducing poaching and protecting elephants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Past trial data show that Moderna’s vaccine is around 27 percent more effective at protecting against the disease than a standard flu shot.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of protecting

Verb

Today’s Four Questions interviewee is Bowdon coach Jamie Abrams, whose team is the defending Class A Division II champion.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Taiwan’s best hope, then, for deterring and defending itself from a blockade by fire would be to prepare to survive one.

— Eugene Gholz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of defending

Verb

At the other end of our road, the cranes of the docks loomed — great Stothert and Pitt machines that growled overhead like something out of Star Wars, guarding the scale and mystery of the River Thames.

— Lee Clayton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Having a humble heart opens the door to a life filled with divine Love guarding and guiding us every step of the way.

— Linda Berckmann, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of guarding

Verb

The hydrating formula moisturizes the skin while shielding it from the sun, too.

— Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026
Mayor Karen Bass’ press relations office communicates through WhatsApp messages that auto-delete every 24 hours, potentially shielding the messages from public records requests, according to three sources familiar with the office.

— Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of shielding

Verb

This all-in-one emergency and estate organizer covers 35 categories of essential documents, accounts, keys and instructions, from bank accounts and birth certificates to medical history, safeguarding and simplifying access in an emergency.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
The Secret Service’s actual procedures turn out to be more like guidelines that can be discarded if the president is sufficiently angry—which, from the standpoint of safeguarding democracy, constitutes a fairly concerning loophole.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026