Defend
Fend
Fend verb - To drive danger or attack away from.
Usage example: uses self-deprecating humor to fend herself from serious criticism
Nearby Word: fending
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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Thankfully, you can Take a Third Option again: if you have invested heavily into reinforcing the fortress and its troops, the Vigil's Keep will manage to fend for itself while you defend Amaranthine.
Source: Sadistic Choice / Video Games -
The Agency deploys these to defend the compound (though they are never used) and terrorists holding a nuclear power plant make use of one to fend off the Agency assault.
Source: Sentry Gun
Cite this Source
Fend and Defend. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/fend
Defend & Fend. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/fend>.
Fend or Defend. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defend/fend.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defend" and "fend" have occurred on timeline