fended off
Warded off successfully
Fended off is the past tense of fend off, meaning to ward away or repel something threatening or unwanted.
You fend off an attacker, fend off criticism, or fend off unwelcome advances.
The image is of pushing something back before it can reach you: She fended off questions about her resignation.
He fended off the dog with a stick.
- repelledDrove away forcefully
- parriedBlocked an attack
- deflectedCaused to veer off
- batted awayDeflected with a swing
- resistedRefused to yield
averted · blocked · pushed back · thwarted · dodge · counter · rebuffed · beat back · prevented · shield · evade · sidestep · elude · oppose · bounce back · refute · guard · turned away