fends
Keeps at bay
Fends is the third-person singular of fend, which means to defend or provide for.
The word appears almost exclusively in fend for oneself—to manage without help—and fend off—to ward away: She fended off his advances, He fended off questions about his past.
Outside these phrases, fend sounds archaic.
Defensive blade movements
- blocksObstructs or sections
- wards offRepels or deflects
- repelsDrives back, resists
- divertsTurns aside from course
averts · rebuffs · turns away · beats back · holds off · staves off · keeps at bay · pushes back
Protective barriers for defense
- guardsProtectors or watchmen
- defendsActs to protect
- safeguardsMeasures preventing harm
- sheltersPlaces offering protection
covers · preserves · secures · watches over · looks after · buffers · insulates · fortifies
parries
Defensive blade movements
diverts · averts · rebuffs · turns away · beats back · holds off · staves off · keeps at bay · pushes back · counters
shields
Protective barriers for defense
- guardsProtectors or watchmen
- defendsActs to protect
- safeguardsMeasures preventing harm
shelters · covers · preserves · secures · watches over · looks after · buffers · insulates · fortifies · screens
manages
Directs or copes
- copesHandles difficulty successfully
- gets bySurvives with minimal resources
- makes doManages with insufficient resources
muddles through · ekes out · subsists · endures · perseveres · holds on · weathers · sustains · provides · shifts
fendssurrenders
Ceases resistance formally
yields · succumbs · capitulates · submits · relents
- fender benderMinor vehicle collision
- fend offDeflect an advance
- fending offDeflecting approaching threats
- fended offDeflected or resisted
- fend for oneselfManage without assistance
- fend for yourselfManage without assistance
defend, defense, offense, offensive, defender, offend, defended, offended, offender