as in repulsed
to drive back
the herd fended off attacking hyenas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fended (off)
Verb
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Floyd, distraught by his own physical failures, is nevertheless repulsed by the sight of Carol in her big, burly ump gear.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026 -
Pheidippides, legendary Greek hēmerodromos, or courier, who is popularly believed to have run 40 km (about 25 miles) from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens in 490 bce, to report that the Athenians, in a single afternoon, had repulsed the first Persian invasion of Greece.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Because they’re all negatively charged, the grains repelled one another, spreading out without colliding.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Dec. 2025
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The scientists repeated the simulations, replacing one of the ice surfaces with other materials that are either attracted or repelled by water.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The suit alleges she was informed the officer resisted calls to attend remedial training going so far as to tell his fellow officers that Internal Affairs could open up an insubordination case on him.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
-
Media buyers have pressed for rollbacks in rates on cable, and the media companies have resisted.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Verb
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All turned back from fear or foul weather.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026
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While the early 2000s have certainly been trending as part of streetwear and Gen Z style inspiration, several high-profile stars, like Lopez, have turned back to the 2000s for their red carpet and promotional tour looks.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Omar Artar, making history as Somalia’s first World Cup referee, was turned away upon arrival at Miami International Airport.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
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O’Hare is not the only airport from which World Cup participants have been turned away.—
Allison Kiehl,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fended (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fended%20%28off%29. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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