forfend

Meaning

To prohibit; to forbid; to avert.

Synonyms

avert

forefend

deflect

debar

head off

stave off

fend off

ward off

obviate

prevent

block

avoid

cross

decline

deter

dismiss

drive back

embarrass

fend

fight off

foil

forbid

forestall

frustrate

guard

💂

help

hinder

impede

incapacitate

inhibit

keep

keep away

keep off

obstruct

parry

pass up

preclude

protect

push back

queer

rebuff

refuse

reject

repel

repress

repudiate

repulse

restrain

scorn

shut

spoil

spurn

stop

🛑

stymy

thwart

trammel

turn away

turn down

freeze off

scotch

stymie

arrest

baffle

bar

beat back

bilk

blockade

block out

block up

check

cover

cramp

Hyphenated as

for‧fend

Pronounced as (IPA)

/fɔːˈfɛnd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: forfenden

In summary

From Middle English forfenden (“to ward off, protect, prohibit”), equivalent to for- + fend.