defensiveadjective
uk/dɪˈfen.sɪv/us/dɪˈfen.sɪv/defensive adjective (PROTECTING)
used to protect someone or something against attack:
These are purely defensive weapons, not designed for attack.
Opposite
offensive
More examples
- Research involving the use of biological warfare agents will be used for defensive purposes.
- The merest hint of criticism makes him defensive.
- The tone of the feminist speakers suggested they were adopting a rather defensive posture.
- Some of the tunnels in the cliff are natural, some were carved out by soldiers for defensive purposes.
- The anti-personnel mines were laid around the town as a defensive measure.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Defending and protecting
- baby
- bandobast
- bastion
- biodefence
- cherish
- featherbed
- guard
- kill
- mollycoddle
- mother
- out of harm's way idiom
- overprotective
- patrol
- proof
- proof
- protect
- protective
- wet nurse
- wrap
- wrap sb (up) in cotton wool idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Responding to an attack
Arms & munitions in general
defensive adjective (SENSITIVE)
C2 too quick to protect yourself from being criticized:
When asked about his decision, he got very defensive.
There's no need to get so defensive!
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Answering & responding
- acknowledgment
- and the same to you with (brass) knobs on idiom
- answer back
- back
- counter
- counterattack
- counterblast
- fifth
- get
- get back to sb
- give
- I take/plead the Fifth (Amendment) idiom
- rejoin
- rejoinder
- reply
- respond
- respondent
- response
- thank you
- unanswered
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Denying & contradicting
defensive adjective (IN SPORT)
in a sports event, trying to prevent the opposing player or players from scoring points, goals, etc.:
He's currently the best defensive player on the team.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Sports & games generally
- athletics
- contact sport
- extreme sport
- free running
- game
- high jinks
- kabaddi
- parkour
- pickup
- play
- sport
defensivenoun
uk/dɪˈfen.sɪv/us/dɪˈfen.sɪv/on the defensive
ready to protect yourself because you are expecting to be criticized or attacked
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Answering & responding
- acknowledgment
- and the same to you with (brass) knobs on idiom
- answer back
- back
- counter
- counterattack
- counterblast
- fifth
- get
- get back to sb
- give
- I take/plead the Fifth (Amendment) idiom
- rejoin
- rejoinder
- reply
- respond
- respondent
- response
- thank you
- unanswered
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defensively
adverb uk/dɪˈfen.sɪv.li/us/dɪˈfen.sɪv.li/
defensiveness
noun [ U ] uk/dɪˈfen.sɪv.nəs/us/dɪˈfen.sɪv.nəs/