forfend vs head off

forfend and head off both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
forfend	No	No	Yes	No
head off	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, forfend and head off are synonyms defined as:

forfend and head off: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off

Other synonyms of forfend include avert, avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, obviate, stave off, ward off.

forfend (verb)	head off (verb)
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off	prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off