as in repels
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 fends (off)
Verb
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This 2x4-foot area rug literally repels water, making liquid less likely to seep deeper into the material.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Feb. 2026 -
To address the issue, researchers at Florida Atlantic University have developed a device that repels sharks but not tuna and swordfish.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Toruño resists the label of activist but embraces the political nature of her work.—
Yamlek Mojica,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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This would not be possible in two or three dimensions, but the words are arranged in tens of thousands of them, a geometry that doggedly resists visualization.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Doing so will ensure your paperwork is processed and ready to go when the spigot turns back on.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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And Keenan Allen turns back the clock.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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My body turns away before my mind can catch up.—
Valeng Cha,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
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Amazon will also close 15 of its Amazon Go locations as the company turns away from brick-and-mortar grocery stores to concentrate on online same-day delivery and its Whole Foods Market brand.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Fends (off).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fends%20%28off%29. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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