warded

[wawr-did] / ˈwɔr dɪd /

VERB

defend, guard

Synonyms

WEAK

avert avoid beat off block check deflect deter divert fend foil forestall frustrate halt hold off interrupt keep at arm's length keep at bay keep off obviate parry preclude prevent rebuff rebut repel repulse rule out stave off stop stymie thwart turn turn aside turn away

Antonyms

WEAK

lay bare make vulnerable open

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.

Some actual Buffetts have warded off comparisons to Berkshire’s chairman.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Their agreement to testify warded off potential contempt-of-Congress proceedings against them.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

They were also revered as talismans that warded off evil spirits.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2025

The drug, called lolamicin, also warded off secondary infections with Clostridioides difficile, a common and dangerous hospital-associated bacterial infection, and was effective against more than 130 multidrug-resistant bacterial strains in cell culture.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2024

People in the village had thought of helping us out by eating a few before we got here, but Mama Tataba, I guess, kept them warded off with a stick.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver