WARDS OFF is a phrase used to describe the action of protecting oneself from something. The crossword solutions for this phrase are REPELS (6 letters), FENDS (5 letters), PARRIES (7 letters), and AVERTS (6 letters). REPELS means to drive away or force back by or as if by a hostile force, FENDS means to ward off or keep away, PARRIES means to ward off or deflect, and AVERTS means to turn away or prevent. All of these words can be used to describe the action of WARDS OFF.