FENDING (OFF) Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

fending (off)

verb

present participle of fend (off)

as in turning back

to drive back the herd fended off attacking hyenas

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending (off)

Verb

Tide turns back to franchises Then the tide started turning back toward familiar waters.

— Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
Once the company and its shareholders become accustomed to such a financial boost, an environment where individual guest spending sharply increases even when domestic park attendance is soft or steady, there’s likely no turning back.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of turning back

Verb

Online video shows Prescott looking back at the man — who was there as a transportation service driver — while still walking, then turning away.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Time will tell whether Gen Z keeps turning away from higher education, but the truth is that the traditionally-aged students who do enroll are also arriving with a wider range of needs than ever before.

— Ruth Bauer, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of turning away

Verb

The running back, 25, had a career night in his first game with the Chiefs, tallying 173 rushing yards on 23 carries, seemingly repelling opponents which resulted in multiple Broncos missed tackles.

— Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
This includes rain-repelling treatments like Rain X, adds Musson.

— Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 12 Sep. 2026

Definition of repelling

Verb

At the Homo Faber craft festival in Venice this past September, one such work—its mouth opening up like a blooming flower—had onlookers resisting the urge to touch it.

— Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026
Ukraine's Eastern European neighbors such as Poland and Romania are resisting a push to allow grain to transit through them — even temporarily — due to concerns about a glut destroying demand for their own crops.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of resisting

Verb

Liverpool are keen for the 21-year-old to gain regular senior experience with Hartberg beating off competition from a number of clubs in Switzerland and France.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
The dogs had driven the woman into the surf before a tourist came to her rescue, beating off the dingoes.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026

Definition of beating off

Verb

But in August, Mangione confessed to the killing and pleaded guilty to two stalking charges, staving off the federal trial.

— Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2026
Florian Wirtz starred as Germany defeated Serbia 2-0 in Munich for Klopp’s first win at the third attempt — staving off an unwanted record.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of staving off

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“Fending (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fending%20%28off%29. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fending (off)

verb

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