de·fen·sive
de·fen·sive/dəˈfensiv/
adjective
- used or intended to defend or protect."troops in defensive positions"synonyms: defending, guarding, safeguarding, protecting, protective, shielding, screening, wary, watchful, averting, withstanding, opposing
- very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism."he was very defensive about that side of his life"synonyms: self-justifying, oversensitive, thin-skinned, easily offended, prickly, paranoid, neurotic, uptight, twitchy, umbrageous
People also ask
What does it mean when a person is defensive?
When a person is acting defensive, they're trying to protect or justify themselves. People who are insecure or guilty tend to act defensive. Also, defensive players in football try to prevent the other side from scoring, just like defensive military strategies try to protect something.
What is an example of a defensive behavior?
Blaming. Shifting the blame to someone else when being criticized is a type of defensive behavior. For example, if someone's husband or wife is being defensive every time they have to pay for something that wasn't their fault, they are guilty of shifting the blame onto them.
Why are people so defensive?
Defensive reactions have the purpose of protecting you from your feelings of being hurt or feeling shame. This defense mechanism may have developed from earlier childhood experiences when you may have experienced a harsh parenting style, abuse, or neglect.
What is the other meaning of defensive?
as in protective. intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression a defensive alliance among the small nations against the aggressors. protective. self-protective. preventive.
7 days ago · The meaning of DEFENSIVE is serving to defend or protect. How to use defensive in a sentence.
defensive adjective (SPORTS). trying to prevent the opposing player or players from scoring points: The team's defensive strategy was effective.
As you've learned, being defensive is a result of feeling ashamed, hurt, guilty, attacked, etc. If a person is feeling this way, responding with further ...
Defensive - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
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Someone on the defensive is concerned with justifying their actions or words. They have a defensive attitude as they try to protect themselves.
adjective. serving to defend; protective: defensive armament. made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty;. a defensive attitude.
adjective · offensive · aggressive · belligerent · warlike · combative · militant · contentious · pugnacious · quarrelsome · truculent.
DEFENSIVE meaning: 1 : defending or protecting someone or something from attack helping to keep a person or thing safe; 2 : behaving in a way that shows ...
4 senses: 1. intended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence 2. rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up.
defensive · averting · conservative · foiling · forestalling · preservative · preventive · thwarting. Weak matches. arresting · balking · checking · coping with ...
DEFENSIVE TERMINOLOGY. Defensive Area - an area of ground assigned to a unit to defend. Troops and weapons do not physically occupy the entire defensive area.