fend

verb

ˈfend How to pronounce fend (audio)
Definition of fendnext
as in to protect
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 fend After being registered upon arrival, many deportees were left to fend for themselves, and did not know what to do or where to go next. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026 Neither was capable of providing for citizens made desperate by endless war and endemic poverty, who were often left to fend for themselves. — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026 In order to test him during his childhood, his parents do everything from shooting an apple off his head to leaving him stranded in a dangerous part of town, forcing John to fend for himself. — Matt Minton, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 The announcement is the latest fallout from the botched handling of the calls on July 27 that left the elderly woman fending for herself against her attacker for more than three hours. — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fend
  1. protect
  2. defend
  3. safeguard
  4. shield
  5. guard
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
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
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
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
  • 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

Phrases Containing fend

Browse Nearby Words

fencing (in)
fend
fended
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fend. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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