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

The party’s pro-Israel hawks say that turning away from Israel is out of step with the electorate.

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Another option would be sending the Dream back to their much smaller regular-season home, although that would mean turning away thousands of potential fans for a championship game.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of turning away

Verb

The patent-pending fabric technology delivers the comfort and insulation of traditional sherpa while actively repelling hay, straw, mulch and grass from clinging to the high-pile fleece.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
The most water-repelling plastics, polyethylene and polypropylene, were the most reactive, and PET and acrylic were the least reactive.

— Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of repelling

Verb

He was arrested for drug possession and resisting arrest, among other charges, and his girlfriend, riding with him, was charged with drug possession.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026
White was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers or employees.

— CBS News, CBS News, 27 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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Style

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

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Synonyms of fending (off)

verb

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