ward off vs forefend

ward off and forefend both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ward off	No	No	Yes	No
forefend	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, ward off and forefend are synonyms defined as:

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

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

ward off (verb)	forefend (verb)
avert, turn away, or repel	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