as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
a place of refuge where the settlers could forfend themselves from attack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 forfend
What’s non-negotiable is that it must be made using a kettle, never — heaven forfend — a microwave.
—
Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
For people who spend too much time debating politics or surfing the internet -- or, heaven forfend, doing both at the same time -- engagement with the real world can present something of a ...
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 23 May 2024
Heaven forfend!
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 3 July 2020
In the United States, instead of building more houses inside the old circle (or, heaven forfend, even closer together and near the places people go), people have built houses even further away.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 30 Dec. 2021
But is Twitter outrage (or, heaven forfend, praise) a useful metric for audience engagement?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2021
And of course the president says oh, my gosh, heaven forfend that poor Omarosa would have to go.
—Fox News, 14 Aug. 2018
Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
For people who spend too much time debating politics or surfing the internet -- or, heaven forfend, doing both at the same time -- engagement with the real world can present something of a ...
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 23 May 2024
Heaven forfend!
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 3 July 2020
In the United States, instead of building more houses inside the old circle (or, heaven forfend, even closer together and near the places people go), people have built houses even further away.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 30 Dec. 2021
But is Twitter outrage (or, heaven forfend, praise) a useful metric for audience engagement?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2021
And of course the president says oh, my gosh, heaven forfend that poor Omarosa would have to go.
—Fox News, 14 Aug. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forfend
Verb
-
House of Aama House of Aama, established in 2015, presents fashion as an instrument for storytelling while protecting cultural heritage and preserving memories.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
-
Prima wondered, with pure bafflement, if there would come a time when people did not worry about her innocence and wish to protect her.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
Verb
-
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles will be featured prominently during the 2025 NFL season.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
-
Scheffler, the world No. 1, and defending PGA champion Schauffele had plenty to say about mud balls on tee shots, particularly on the 16th hole that sent both to double bogey.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
She’s tirelessly championed their work confronting the climate crisis, protecting public health and safeguarding nature.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 May 2025
-
As peak natural disaster season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is urging Americans to safeguard key financial and tax records and take advantage of available tax relief.—
Dan Cody,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
The movement is encased in a soft-iron inner cage, which shields it from magnetic fields that can negatively affects the accuracy of mechanical timepieces.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
2 May 2025
-
The reputation of the debonair painter must be shielded from progressive zealotry.—
James Meyer,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
And when the focus shifts from guarding what’s been built to cultivating what’s possible next.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
-
Reese, who led LSU to the 2023 national championship, later threw a three-quarter-court pass to guard Rachel Banham for an easy layup.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forfend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfend. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share