Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb fend

2 senses of fend

Sense 1
fend -- (try to manage without help; "The youngsters had to fend for themselves after their parents died")
       => cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage -- (come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day")

Sense 2
resist, stand, fend -- (withstand the force of something; "The trees resisted her"; "stand the test of time"; "The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow")
       => fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend -- (fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!")