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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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
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
Heaven forfend!
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 3 July 2020
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
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
Heaven forfend!
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 3 July 2020
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 Linc is an open-air stadium, so there is no dome or roof to protect fans from the sun.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Its leaders have repeatedly contended that their resistance to occupation is protected under international law and the Lebanese constitution, if not under the new domestic policy.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Governor Gavin Newsom's office defended the framework, calling protests against Hernandez a cynical attempt to weaponize the debate.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
The question is whether the student understands it well enough to defend it, adapt it and apply it when conditions change.—
Shannon McKeen,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
While court orders that block counterfeiters can help to safeguard intellectual property, sometimes those counterfeiters simply turn to other aliases and cybersquatting ploys to continue their activities.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
14 May 2026
-
Newsom is eager to safeguard programs that have defined his tenure as the leader of the nation's most populous state and one of the world's largest economies.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Volvo safety expert Isabelle Stockman says the EX60 was designed with super-strong A-pillars and a header to shield the car’s occupants from potential hazards.—
Kristin Shaw,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
-
Earlier this year, a law that seeks to shield minors from addictive, violent, and pornographic online content took effect.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Barnes shares touches with fellow All-Star Brandon Ingram and guards RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, but Barnes is a superpowered connector.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
As for the Cliff Booth movie, like all things involving Tarantino, it has been closely guarded.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forfend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfend. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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