FEND (OFF) Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

fend (off)

verb

Definition of fend (off)

as in to repel

to drive back the herd fended off attacking hyenas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fend (off)

Verb

The first North Korean deployment began in the Kursk region in October 2024, to repel a Ukrainian incursion, the first on Russian soil since the Nazis.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
The drawback of using essential oils to repel flies is that their efficacy is short-lived.

— Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of repel

Verb

Compounding the crisis is the fact that airlines are actively resisting standardization in a bid to outdo each other.

— Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
For instance, as a Christian, I am called to vote for doing justice, making peace, loving mercy, being humble, doing good and resisting evil and, most of all, loving my neighbor, whoever that is.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of resist

Verb

Then, the pressure is released so that DME turns back into a gas, leaving the water in the tank.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 2026
The fire turned back into California late Thursday morning, burning in Lassen County just above the Sierra County line, fire maps showed.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of turn back

Verb

Hugo Lloris turned away one shot for LAFC (10-6-4), which had piled up 11 goals in its previous four matches.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Your building staff has been instructed to refuse entry to City inspectors sent to investigate these complaints, as we are constantly turned away.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of turn away

Verb

After working around the clock for the better part of a week toward an interim bilateral trade deal, trade officials from the United States and Canada may have reached a consensus that will stave off a fresh round of punishing tariffs.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
But Washington cannot stave off a transition to a new regional order by simply pretending that nothing has changed.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

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.

Browse Nearby Words

fending (off)

fend (off)

fends

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fend (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fend%20%28off%29. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fend (off)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

prowess

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes