fending off
Keeping at bay
Fending off is the act of warding away or deflecting something unwanted.
You fend off an attacker, fend off criticism, or fend off unwelcome advances.
The phrase implies active resistance against pressure or threat: She spent the afternoon fending off reporters' questions.
The underlying verb fend appears independently mainly in fend for yourself—to manage without help.
- repellingPushing away forcefully
- wardingDefending against approach
- resistingActively opposing pressure
- parryingDeflecting an attack
- blockingImpeding forward progress
withstand · shield · standing guard · evade · intercept · pushing back · cope · outwit · guard · circumvent · rebuff · turning away · protecting · deflect · beating back · counter · immunize · putting up a fight
- defenseprotecting, protection, security, safety, guard
- defensive gesturesflinching, cowering, cringing, ducking, recoiling
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- driving awayrepelling, banishing, forcing out, shooing, dispersing
- seamanshipseamanship, steering, anchoring, navigation, chartwork
fending offwelcoming
Receiving others warmly
embracing · accepting · receiving · inviting · letting in
fending offattacking
Actively engaging offensively
pursuing · going after · assailing · chasing · hunting
fending offinviting
Attractively appealing
beckoning · attracting · drawing in · luring · enticing
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