fend off
phrasal verb
fended off; fending off; fends off
: to defend oneself against (someone or something)
They succeeded in fending off the attack/attackers.
They have had to fend off allegations of voter fraud.
Examples of fend off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Keeping players does not just mean fending off any offers for their key figures.
—
Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Four months after becoming the first black leader of any European nation, Vaughan Gething announces his resignation as First Minister of Wales, having failed to fend off persistent questions about his acceptance of donations from a disgraced businessman.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Nine victories would likely be enough to fend off the Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins, the only three remaining teams with a chance to catch the Chargers or the Broncos.
—Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 17 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Macy’s, which has a strong executive team at its helm, has had plenty to deal with, from fending off activist pressures to reversing recent sales declines, and a serious accounting issue related to an employee who intentionally hid $151 million in delivery expenses.
—David Moin, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fend off 
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Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
Four months after becoming the first black leader of any European nation, Vaughan Gething announces his resignation as First Minister of Wales, having failed to fend off persistent questions about his acceptance of donations from a disgraced businessman.
—The Week Uk, theweek, 25 Dec. 2024
Nine victories would likely be enough to fend off the Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins, the only three remaining teams with a chance to catch the Chargers or the Broncos.
—Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 17 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Macy’s, which has a strong executive team at its helm, has had plenty to deal with, from fending off activist pressures to reversing recent sales declines, and a serious accounting issue related to an employee who intentionally hid $151 million in delivery expenses.
—David Moin, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fend off
Dictionary Entries Near fend off
Cite this Entry
“Fend off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fend%20off. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.
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