fend (off)

verb

Definition of fend (off)next
as in to repel
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 fend (off)
  1. repel
  2. resist
  3. turn back
  4. repulse
  5. turn away
  6. stave off
Verb
  • Kyiv's troops have repelled months of Russian counteroffensives, but recent weeks have seen their salient crumble and Russian forces retake significant ground.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • This desperation, rather than repelling me, became a source of connection.
    — Priscilla Posada, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of repel
Verb
  • Many assume government workers will resist new technology, but this overlooks a simple truth: The entire U.S. workforce already navigates sophisticated technology in their daily lives.
    — Alex Saric, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • To that end, her drama resists sensationalizing the Barnetts’ claims, and then rejects them all together.
    — Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of resist
Verb
  • A number of overnight flights out of L.A. were asked to turn back three to four hours into their journeys.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
  • More than likely, they are caught, Helly is forced to go upstairs to turn back into Helena, and either Mark is murdered for doing such damage to Lumon’s plan (and for killing a Lumon executive), or Innie Mark essentially dies when Lumon also forces him to go upstairs.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of turn back
Verb
  • Kay’s particular diet was a recurring talking point on the show, with condiments such as ketchup and mayo among the foods that repulsed the TV voice of the Yankees.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2025
  • These same, once skeptical business leaders rallied around Trump in 2017 but were repulsed by many of his words and actions within eight months, withdrawing support, not returning to give him a second chance until now.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of repulse
Verb
  • The legal document details that Lawrence didn’t have the correct paperwork to take her dog, a 9-year-old miniature schnauzer, on the flight and was subsequently turned away.
    — Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • An American retreat to isolationist policies, spotlit by the constant coverage President Trump's actions garner, is already prompting a turn away from the U.S. and our democratic values toward our adversaries, like Russia and China.
    — Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of turn away
Verb
  • If boundaries are the weak point, anticipate ways to stave off interruptions – for example, hanging a Do Not Disturb sign on your cubicle.
    — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Even the outdoor waiting area, with a proper roof that actually staves off the hot sun, has uninterrupted ocean views, as do the sauna, steam room, and cold and hot plunge pools.
    — Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of stave off
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.

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“Fend (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fend%20%28off%29. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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