fends

verb

present tense third-person singular of fend
as in protects
to drive danger or attack away from learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fends
  1. protects
  2. defends
  3. shields
Verb
  • Boise police will work with counsel and prosecutors to make sure enforcement is consistent, with the law and also protects people’s rights, spokesperson Haley Williams said.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026
  • The administration’s proposal risks harming both the historic building and the system of reviews that protects structures like it.
    — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 24 July 2026
Definition of protects
Verb
  • Having taken home the top spot on the 50 Top Pizza list for three years, Una Pizza Napoletana defends its aptonym well.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
  • Elsewhere, Thekla defends the AEW Women's World Championship against Willow Nightingale, who earned the opportunity by winning a Casino Gauntlet match.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of defends
Verb
  • The Justice Department wants to invoke the Westfall Act, which shields government employees from being sued for doing their jobs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Jason Sudeikis playfully shields daughter Daisy Josephine and son Otis Alexander from the beaming Los Angeles sun while at the Ted Lasso season 4 premiere on July 27.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of shields
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.

Browse Nearby Words

fend (off)
fends
fends for oneself
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fends. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fends

Nglish: Translation of fends for Spanish Speakers

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