head off vs forfend

head off and forfend both are verbs.

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

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

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

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

head off (verb)	forfend (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