as in turning back
to drive back
the herd fended off attacking hyenas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending (off)
Verb
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Chapman is in the midst of a career season at age 37, turning back the clock to re-establish himself as one of baseball’s most dominant closers.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025 -
Lane picked up three on first down, but the Otay Ranch defense stiffened, turning back the next two runs for no gain.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Poison for one’s brand, such corporate drivel undermines trust in you and your company, turning away prospects.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Our early evening view is gradually turning away from the direction of space occupied by Bootes.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In this growing method, fruit trees are grown near particular companion plants that benefit fruit tree growth, such as pest-repelling flowers, soil-improving legumes, or weed-suppressing groundcovers.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
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These posts filter your audience, attracting those who align with your values while repelling those who don't.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nash was arrested and booked into the Gila County Jail on charges of murder, endangerment and resisting arrest, police said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday resisting any potential federal deployment.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And no longevity-claiming therapy is considered fruitful without sound research that confirms efficacy after following a diverse cohort of humans for decades to see if the therapy is associated with extended life or staving off chronic disease.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
5 Sep. 2025
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Mexico's move is intended to protect its domestic producers from these latest tariffs while preserving internal supplies and staving off downward price pressures.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Fending (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fending%20%28off%29. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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