THESAURUS
fend
anticipate, arm, armor, avert, bar, beat off, bless, block, bulwark, champion, check, cloak, compass about, copyright, counter, cover, cushion, debar, defend, deflect, deter, discourage, dishearten, divert, drive back, ensure, estop, exclude, fence,
fend off, forbid, foreclose, forestall, get by, guarantee, guard, harbor, haven, help, hinder, hold at bay, hold off, insure, keep, keep at bay, keep from, keep from harm, keep off, make do, make out, make safe, nestle, obstruct, obviate, parry, patent, police, preclude, prevent, prohibit, protect, push back, put back, rebuff, register, repel, repulse, resist, ride shotgun for, rule out, safeguard, save, screen, secure, shelter, shield, shroud, stave off, stop, turn aside, underwrite, ward off
ROGET THESAURUS
fend
Defense
VB
defend, forfend,
fend, shield, screen, shroud, engarrison,
fend round, fence, entrench, intrench, guard, guard against, take care of, bear harmless,
fend off, keep off, ward off, beat off, beat back, hinder, parry, repel, propugn, put to flight, give a warm reception to, hold at bay, keep at bay, keep arm's length, stand on the defensive, act on the defensive, show fight, maintain one's ground, stand one's ground, stand by, hold one's own, bear the brunt, stand the brunt, fall back upon, hold, stand in the gap.