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

During the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–88, which Khomeini prolonged for several years after repelling the Iraqi invasion, a disproportionate burden fell on Iranians in the southwestern and western provinces.

— Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Some of these hacks include mixing baking soda and sugar, putting bay leaves around cabinets and under appliances and repelling roaches with essential oils.

— Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Definition of repel

Verb

However, the connection between these filaments and supermassive black holes has been elusive, meaning this mechanism has resisted confirmation.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 July 2026
For example, if your place has a dining room, resist the temptation to squeeze in a table for six when a normal-size table for four would be more comfortable.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 19 July 2026

Definition of resist

Verb

The front-9 and the beginning of the back-9 holes play mostly away from the coastline, but play moves back towards the Moray Firth on the par-4 13th, hugging the waterline for the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes before turning back towards the clubhouse.

— Zach Schenfisch, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
As the clock ticked down, Boyle took off his headphones, dropped the microphone and turned back into a student, rushing the field with his classmates.

— Pete Sampson, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of turn back

Verb

Plenty of people bought it, plenty were repulsed by it.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Spearmint and peppermint plants are particularly effective insect repellents, but many other plants in the mint family can also be used to repulse flies, including pennyroyal and lemon balm.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026

Definition of repulse

Verb

And if the war escalates further, there will be fewer buffers available to stave off another big spike.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 14 July 2026
Amid the dispute, some concerts at the Barn have continued, but several Helm Family Midnight Ramble shows — a special concert series that Helm himself launched in 2004 to stave off foreclosure — have been postponed.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 July 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 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of fend (off)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'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?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes