as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from
a place of refuge where the settlers could forfend themselves from attack
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Example Sentences
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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
-
The archipelago, protected as a national park, hums with quiet life—salt flats blush rose in the heat, and mangroves cradle herons in leafy stillness.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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That case ultimately led to Congress’ passage in 1980 of the Privacy Protection Act, which protects journalists in such cases.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The case could determine the future of Brazil’s domestic politics and foreign relations: Critics of Bolsonaro — who is accused of having plotted to kill his successor — say his conviction is necessary to defend democracy in Latin America’s biggest nation.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Atkins defended developers of self-custody wallets and DeFi applications, stating that they shouldn't be held liable for how users utilize their software, comparing it to holding car manufacturers responsible for traffic accidents.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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By making a thoughtful and informed choice, grantors can safeguard the trust’s purpose and promote harmony among beneficiaries.—
Royce Ramey,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Parents are supposed to shield our young from those dangers.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
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At one point in the war, the Israel Defense Forces discovered an entire Hamas data center and server farm underneath a U.N. office, which was sharing its access to the electric grid with a room full of Hamas servers and whose placement served to shield the Hamas command center from the IDF.—
Seth Mandel,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The top priority–trumping everything else, including profits–is that all of us continue to zealously guard Berkshire’s reputation.—
Jane Swift,
Fortune,
6 Aug. 2025
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Agency employees are greeting the news, unveiled at an all hands meeting on Monday, with guarded optimism and relief.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forfend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfend. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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