FENDED Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

fended

verb

past tense of fend

as in defended

to drive danger or attack away from learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 fended Video captured the bear charging toward Koerwitz, who fended it off with bear spray. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 While his mom was in prison, Young and his older brother, Robert, mostly fended for themselves, often in a home that lacked electricity and running water. — Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Most of the refugees from the region fended for themselves in shanty towns around Baku, despised by the urbanites even as their plight was weaponized. — Literary Hub, 30 July 2026 Alternatively, the young might have fended for themselves, similar to lizards. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fended

Verb

The government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, however, has defended the response of rescue teams.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
City officials defended the report as a routine effort to inform council members about infrastructure investments.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of defended

Verb

For generations, a dense tangle of mangrove trees has shielded the city as rising temperatures due to climate change intensified storms and flooding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Not far from Stark, a woman huddled on the ground, shielded from the floodwaters by the temporary barrier.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026