fence synonyms

fence

n.

  1. That which surrounds an enclosure

    barricade, barrier, rail, railing, wall, picket fence, wire fence, board fence, electrified fence, barbed-wire fence, post-and-rail fence, chain-link fence, snake fence, Cyclone fence (trademark), rail fence, chain fence, stone wall, hedge, paling, balustrade, palisade, backstop, net, dike, ha-ha.

  2. Material to make an enclosure

    fencing, barbed wire, chicken wire, pickets, woven wire, palings, stakes, grape stakes, posts, rails, boarding.

  3. A receiver of stolen goods

    accomplice; front, front man, drop*, dump*, family man*, uncle*, swagman*.

mend one's fences*

renew contacts, look after one's political interests, solicit votes, politic; see campaign 1.

on the fence*

uncertain, uncommitted, undecided, neutral; see doubtful 2, undecided.

fence

v.

  1. To enclose with a fence

    surround, encircle, corral; see enclose 1.

  2. To avoid giving a direct reply

    hedge, parry, dodge, sidestep; see evade 1.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.