forfend vs stave off

forfend and stave off both are verbs.

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

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

forfend and stave 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, head off, obviate, ward off.

forfend (verb)	stave 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