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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2025

Another widely-circulated post was written by a person who said their mother was badly injured in the attack and was currently warded in a hospital's intensive care unit.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2024

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

Dr. Tilson warded off a flurry of “How is she? Is she all right? What caused it? Can I go up?”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck