FORFEND Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

forfend

verb

fȯr-ˈfend

Definition of forfend

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from a place of refuge where the settlers could forfend themselves from attack

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of forfend What’s non-negotiable is that it must be made using a kettle, never — heaven forfend — a microwave. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025 In the United States, instead of building more houses inside the old circle (or, heaven forfend, even closer together and near the places people go), people have built houses even further away. — Adam Rogers, Wired, 30 Dec. 2021 But is Twitter outrage (or, heaven forfend, praise) a useful metric for audience engagement? — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2021 And of course the president says oh, my gosh, heaven forfend that poor Omarosa would have to go. — Fox News, 14 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forfend

Verb

Play was suspended on the outside courts, but the roofs could close on Armstrong and Ashe, protecting Bublik and Wolf, and Novak Djokovic and Mariano Navone, from the elements.

— Rebecca Tauber, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Families who answer those questions early protect both generations.

— Jon Sabes, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of protect

Verb

Alonso is leaning into Chelsea’s strength — the transitional attacking power of his front three — and working on protecting the weakness, giving up too much space for his team to defend.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of defend

Verb

Central fights include how to divvy up cap-and-invest climate dollars, whether to shield utilities from wildfire liability, and whether to roll back controversial shortcuts to environmental review for industrial projects.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Unlike Bitcoin, Zcash allows users to shield transaction details, such as the sender, recipient, and transaction amount, using zero-knowledge cryptography.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shield

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forfeitures

forfend

forfended

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“Forfend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forfend. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of forfend

verb

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