Meaning & use
defensive
Quick to protect oneself against criticism, attack, or perceived threat, sometimes overly so.
See it in a sentence
He became defensive as soon as his coworkers questioned his report's accuracy.
The team's defensive strategy focused on blocking every attempt the opponents made to score.
A note on using this word
Defensive commonly describes an emotional reaction to criticism, as well as a strategic stance in sports or military contexts.
Words with a similar meaning
guardedprotective
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
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