fend
1 of 2verb
ˈfend 
fended; fending; fends
transitive verb
1
: defend
2
: to keep or ward off : repel —often used with off
fend off an invader
3
dialectal British : to provide for : support
intransitive verb
1
dialectal British : to make an effort : struggle
2
a
: to try to get along without help : shift
had to fend for themselves
b
: to provide a livelihood
fend
2 of 2noun
chiefly Scotland
: an effort or attempt especially for oneself
Synonyms
Verb
- bulwark
- cover
- defend
- fence
- forfend
- guard
- keep
- protect
- safeguard
- screen
- secure
- shield
- ward
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism
Recent Examples on the Web
Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 3 May 2022 In 2020, Amazon’s top legal executive suggested the company’s senior leaders fend off workplace safety criticism by trying to turn the focus on Smalls. Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2022 French automaker Renault moved to pause production at its Moscow plant in an apparent move to fend off mounting criticism, breaking ranks with other major French companies that have defied pressure to keep operating in Russia. Thomas Adamson, ajc, 24 Mar. 2022 To fend off criticism that the DUP, supporters of Brexit, is responsible for Northern Ireland’s current predicament, its leaders have demanded that the protocol be scrapped entirely. Ian Bremmer, Time, 15 Apr. 2021 That strategy has sometimes taken on strange twists, as when his entourage this week seemed to try to fend off criticism that Mr. Macron had ignored the advice of epidemiologists. New York Times, 31 Mar. 2021 The robotic Sox baseball ops department had no boots on the ground in Houston, so Vázquez was left to fend for himself. Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2022 Small business owners like Ms. De Los Ángeles are frustrated that they are left to fend for themselves while Monterrey’s big industries are largely able to operate normally. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 But while corporations were being saved by central bank policies and federal government bailouts, workers were left to fend for themselves. Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Drake Hills, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2022 Whether Gigi will be accepted back into the world of the whale or fend for herself in a hostile ocean after a year in the tame tanks of Sea World is a matter of conjecture. San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2022 Carr, who had over a dozen supporters speak at the meeting, said board members were lacking urgency in exploring major changes to better support students and fend of a plan by Republican lawmakers to dissolve the district. Rory Linnane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2022 Experts say frictions are fueled by a U.S. fend-for-yourself model around caring for kids. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2022 Rodriguez can be an incredibly inventive director of action, but the choreography of the scene where Boba, Fennec, and the two Gamorrean fend off the shield-bearing assassins is just okay. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2021 The duo fend off acne-causing bacteria, but do so in a way that doesn’t dehydrate your skin or lead to further irritation. Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 The running back rushed for a pair of touchdowns to help Lone Peak fend off American Fork, 27-21, on Friday night. The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Sep. 2021 Helping her fend off all the Sophies of the Wagner office. Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, 1 June 2021 See More
Verb
While income limits may help fend off some criticism, there are still plenty of attack vectors. Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 3 May 2022 In 2020, Amazon’s top legal executive suggested the company’s senior leaders fend off workplace safety criticism by trying to turn the focus on Smalls. Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2022 French automaker Renault moved to pause production at its Moscow plant in an apparent move to fend off mounting criticism, breaking ranks with other major French companies that have defied pressure to keep operating in Russia. Thomas Adamson, ajc, 24 Mar. 2022 To fend off criticism that the DUP, supporters of Brexit, is responsible for Northern Ireland’s current predicament, its leaders have demanded that the protocol be scrapped entirely. Ian Bremmer, Time, 15 Apr. 2021 That strategy has sometimes taken on strange twists, as when his entourage this week seemed to try to fend off criticism that Mr. Macron had ignored the advice of epidemiologists. New York Times, 31 Mar. 2021 The robotic Sox baseball ops department had no boots on the ground in Houston, so Vázquez was left to fend for himself. Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2022 Small business owners like Ms. De Los Ángeles are frustrated that they are left to fend for themselves while Monterrey’s big industries are largely able to operate normally. New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022 But while corporations were being saved by central bank policies and federal government bailouts, workers were left to fend for themselves. Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Noun
But in 2022 World Cup Qualifying, the two rivals have helped each other fend off other nations from stealing their automatic bids to the World Cup in Qatar. Drake Hills, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2022 Whether Gigi will be accepted back into the world of the whale or fend for herself in a hostile ocean after a year in the tame tanks of Sea World is a matter of conjecture. San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2022 Carr, who had over a dozen supporters speak at the meeting, said board members were lacking urgency in exploring major changes to better support students and fend of a plan by Republican lawmakers to dissolve the district. Rory Linnane, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2022 Experts say frictions are fueled by a U.S. fend-for-yourself model around caring for kids. Alia E. Dastagir, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2022 Rodriguez can be an incredibly inventive director of action, but the choreography of the scene where Boba, Fennec, and the two Gamorrean fend off the shield-bearing assassins is just okay. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Dec. 2021 The duo fend off acne-causing bacteria, but do so in a way that doesn’t dehydrate your skin or lead to further irritation. Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 The running back rushed for a pair of touchdowns to help Lone Peak fend off American Fork, 27-21, on Friday night. The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Sep. 2021 Helping her fend off all the Sophies of the Wagner office. Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, 1 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English fenden, short for defenden "to defend"
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1721, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing fend
Kids Definition
fend
verb
ˈfend
fended; fending
1
: to drive away or repel
I tried to fend off an attack.
2
: to get along without help
You'll have to fend for yourself.
fend
verb
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- protect
- defend
- safeguard
- shield
- guard
- prevent
- ward
- bulwark
- fence
- secure
- keep
- save
- avert
- forfend
- cover
- withstand
- resist
- preserve
- screen
- fight
- oppose
- conserve
- contend
- stand up for
- war
- battle
- buffer
- picket
- wall
- palisade
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- attack
- assault
- assail
- beset
- overrun
- submit
- bombard
- cave
- yield
- besiege
- storm
- capitulate