fended off

VERB

keep at bay

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert avoid deflect rebuff rebut reject repel repulse resist spurn ward off

WEAK

beat off drive back hold at bay keep at a distance keep at arm's length keep off parry rebuke refuse snub stave off turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve attract want welcome

WEAK

let in

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.

It fended off competition from Death Stranding 2, Nintendo platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, indie games Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades 2, and medieval adventure Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to claim the top prize.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

The fake videos included one in which an old woman fed apples to a bear, and another in which an unarmed high school student fended off a bear with her bare hands.

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

Of course, two have already played their signature epic: June’s five-set doozy at Roland-Garros, in which Alcaraz fended off match points and recovered to take a final set tiebreak to capture his second clay major.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 7, 2025

Gomez successfully fended off challenges from David Kim, a progressive Democrat targeting him from the left, in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2025

Stick fended off my hands with a sweeping arc of one arm.

From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon