fights off

VERB

defend oneself

Synonyms

WEAK

beat off bottle up check contain control curb fend off hold at bay hold back keep at bay oppose put up fight repel reply repress repulse resist restrain retaliate stave off ward off

Antonyms

WEAK

give in give up surrender yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

fights off

The immune system fights off the harmless virus and learns to fight Ebola in the process.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

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You can feel the vectored torque tugging at the wheel as it fights off understeer in a tight turn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026

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Part “Westworld,” part “Star Wars”: a cybersecurity tech in a digital Old West town fights off alien invaders with her tablet.

From New York Times ● Feb. 11, 2024

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Conversely, some people end up sleeping for long stretches when they have COVID, Al-Aly said, as the body conserves energy while it fights off the infection.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 25, 2023

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The first section of the book is in imitation of an English romance, "Guy of Warwick", in which England fights off a Danish invasion.

From The White Knight: Tirant Lo Blanc by Robert S. Rudder

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