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fend for

VERB

take care of

Synonyms

WEAK

eke out existence look after make do make provision for provide for stay alive subsist support survive sustain

Antonyms

WEAK

ignore neglect

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"They should have secured their people before the war started… not left people like this to fend for themselves," she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Animal experts said that if the otters - who have since been named Valentine and Juliet - had been left to fend for themselves much longer, they likely would have died.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

When a storm blanketed the nation last month from New Mexico to the Outer Banks, many with little snow removal experience had to fend for themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

In the middle of a villain era, good people can feel like members of an endangered species reclassified as huntable and left to fend for themselves.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026

We’re at the beginning, Chapter Two, where the kids are only just realizing that they’re going to have to fend for themselves.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King