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 Meanwhile, nonessential exterior lights were switched off, and the doors to outdoor areas were sealed after sundown, in an effort to fend off swarms of insects — something that’s rarely a consideration at sea. —

Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2024 The deal will ensure the U.S. continues to provide Ukraine with military equipment and weapons as the country continues to fend off Russian invasion. —

Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 13 June 2024 Mental health professionals shared tips on how to check on your mental health and fend off emerging problems. —

Vanessa Franko, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024 But the scope of the opposition in Congress also raised the question of whether that last injection of a sizable military package could be the last, and threatens Mr. Biden’s claim as the Western leader who rallied the rest of the allies to fend off further assaults by President Vladimir V. Putin. —

David E. Sanger, New York Times, 12 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for fend off

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fend off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.