FENDING Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

fending

verb

present participle of fend

as in protecting

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

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 fending Feral populations spring up as result of these self-sustaining domestic animals fending for themselves. — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Smith later found Cowan lying in a pool of blood and attempted to stop the bleeding while fending the dogs off, per PEOPLE reporting. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026 Sinner took their first meeting, overwhelming a streaky Jódar in the first set and fending him off for most of the second in a 6-2, 7-6(0) win Wednesday. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 Those Shahed successes may accrue, at least in part, from the fact that the United States and Israel lack Ukraine’s long experience with fending them off. — IEEE Spectrum, 24 Mar. 2026 Oklahoma City was fending without centers Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, but Williams — a third-string big good enough to start on at least a handful of teams — killed Denver with his spacing. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026 We're stuck fending for ourselves. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026 Those with mobility issues — many of whom were at nursing homes — were left fending for themselves or relying on a group of Pasadena Transit bus drivers. — Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 17 Jan. 2026 Unhoused and fending for herself After Frye graduated from high school, her mother packed up and moved with the rest of family to Orlando. — Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fending

Verb

For many Christians and Jews, protecting coexistence in the Holy Land is a moral imperative after their own long histories of religious persecution.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Reporting lines and operating partnerships are worth protecting.

— Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of protecting

Verb

Skubal also issued two walks and hit a batter with a pitch in just his second career appearance at Dodger Stadium, taking the mound nine days after the defending champions acquired him from Detroit in the biggest trade of the deadline.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers may have to relinquish their title to the surging Atlanta Braves.

— Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of defending

Verb

Johnson is guarding Isaac Okoro in the corner and is shading far off of him as the action is on the opposite side of the floor.

— Tom Rende, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Pleasant, a rising junior who was limited during spring camp with a shoulder injury, should get the first crack at guarding opposing top receivers.

— Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of guarding

Verb

France has banned unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial practices.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
At a news conference, Twin Falls police released dramatic surveillance video that showed terrified employees diving for cover and shielding one another.

— Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026