| 释义 |
[ dih-fen-siv ] / dɪˈfɛn sɪv / SEE SYNONYMS FOR defensive ON THESAURUS.COM
adjectiveserving to defend; protective: defensive armament. made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude. of or relating to defense. (of stocks, securities, etc.) - able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk: The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
- considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.
excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings. nouna position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes. Obsolete. something that serves to defend. Origin of defensive1350–1400; <Medieval Latin dēfēnsīvus (see defense, -ive); replacing Middle English defensif<Middle French <Medieval Latin, as above OTHER WORDS FROM defensivede·fen·sive·ly, adverbde·fen·sive·ness, nounnon·de·fen·sive, adjectivenon·de·fen·sive·ly, adverb non·de·fen·sive·ness, nouno·ver·de·fen·sive, adjectiveo·ver·de·fen·sive·ly, adverbo·ver·de·fen·sive·ness, nounsem·i·de·fen·sive, adjectivesem·i·de·fen·sive·ly, adverbsem·i·de·fen·sive·ness, nounun·de·fen·sive, adjectiveun·de·fen·sive·ly, adverbun·de·fen·sive·ness, noun Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for defensiveBut in 1998, he sensed the urgency and the utility of taking impeachment on directly—and certainly not defensively. Send In Bill Clinton to Save the Democratic Midterm Campaign|Robert Shrum|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST “That was the decision of the lawyers,” Sharpton says defensively in the Times interview. Al Sharpton’s Long Bill of Goods, From Tawana Brawley to Primetime|Stuart Stevens|June 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST The Patriot subset that declines to accept racism continues to cope with the issue unevenly and defensively. The Patriot Movement’s New Bestseller Tests Their Anti-Racism|J.M. Berger|June 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST But Boredom, defensively subtitled A Lively History, is in fact a spirited, no-nonsense guide to a surprisingly contentious topic. A Book About Boredom Is Anything But|Jeremy Axelrod|June 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
“I got them when I was in medical school but I never wore them,” she said, a little too defensively. Why Are These Models Wearing Clogs?|Kate Betts|June 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST Defensively, too, had the rider of the maherry an advantage over his antagonists. The Boy Slaves|Mayne Reid "I don't think they're too contented, Mr. March," said Barbara, defensively. John March, Southerner|George W. Cable “It is easy enough getting in, if you take your time,” she always said defensively to criticizing friends. Eve to the Rescue|Ethel Hueston "Mother was sick, and I had to go of errands," said the child, defensively. “Well, you know Jerry will be here only a few days at most,” Penny said defensively. Voice from the Cave|Mildred A. Wirt
British Dictionary definitions for defensive
adjectiveintended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings nouna position of defence on the defensive in an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism Derived forms of defensivedefensively, adverbdefensiveness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Idioms and Phrases with defensiveThe American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Words related to defensiveopposing, conservative, preservative, thwarting, foiling, averting, forestalling, preventive, uptight, arresting, resistive, balking, checking, defending, frustrating, guarding, interrupting, protecting, safeguarding, withstanding |