fence 1 of 2

noun

ˈfen(t)s How to pronounce fence (audio)
Definition of fencenext
as in wall
a physical object that blocks the way the only way to prevent motorists from trying to use that unsafe bridge is to put a fence across the road leading to it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fence

2 of 2

verb

as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from had worked as a bodyguard, fencing a number of pop stars at big events

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 fence
Noun
Who, by the way, require a specific fence of seven-to-nine feet high to overcome their vertical leap. — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 The mountains seemingly hoist the road up into the air and hold it, like how a parent holds a toddler up to a too-high fence to get a better view. — Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has fenced off its central plaza, beneath the spaceship-like, hovering building, reports the Los Angeles Times. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 In Ocean City, Maryland, heavy surf caused beach erosion, washed out fencing by the dunes and was leading to flooding. — CBS News, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fence
  1. wall
  2. protect
  3. barricade
  4. defend
  5. barrier
  6. guard
  7. shield
  8. safeguard
Noun
  • There is a build up of debris around the back vent and wall above the walk-in freezer.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Open every day and complimentary for all guests, children four and older are fully supervised on indoor and outdoor adventures, from a climbing wall and children’s cinema to village walks and ski lessons.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of wall
Verb
  • More missiles, many more options This would significantly expand the ship’s ability to protect an entire naval task group, rather than primarily concentrating on defending itself and nearby assets.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Russia imposed temporary export controls on helium in April to protect its domestic supply.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of protect
Noun
  • The city is on tenterhooks, with yellow barricades and roaming security forces dotting the streets.
    — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026
  • On the Champs-Elysées, groups of protesters set up barricades, defying police bans on protest actions there.
    — Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of barricade
Verb
  • Trump proceeded to defend the White House renovation for an additional five-odd minutes before delivering Obama a message directly.
    — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Egypt's president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn't attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of defend
Noun
  • One of the key issues has been cultural and religious barriers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Israel regularly imposes restrictions on movement across the Palestinian occupied territory with some 925 checkpoints, roadblocks, earth mounds and other barriers.
    — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrier
Verb
  • Campbell ended up hitting the block of all blocks off the tee, with his ball entering what is a legitimate jungle guarding the right side of the fairway.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, my mother ferociously guarded her friendships with open-minded neighbors.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of guard
Verb
  • Plus, the long-term lease business could shield it from cyclical exposure in lumber.
    — Sebastien Chasse, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Americans have been largely shielded from direct competition with Chinese automakers.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • On the other hand, automation can optimize the return on human capital if it is used to eliminate low-value tasks while safeguarding the organization’s long-term human innovative capacity.
    — Syed Ahmad, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In 2023, amidst the collapse of Credit Suisse, Ermotti returned to lead UBS, spearheading the historic emergency acquisition of Credit Suisse to safeguard Swiss financial stability.
    — , CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of safeguard

Phrases Containing fence

Browse Nearby Words

fen
fence
fenced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fence. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fence

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fence

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All