Defensive synonyms

dĭ-fĕn'sĭv

Category:

Part of speech:

attacking (related)
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0
guarding
3
1
touchy
Very risky
2
1
combative (antonym)
The definition of combative is a person who likes to fight or argue.
1
1
prickly
Covered with sharp points.
1
4
armed (related)
Having arms (limbs) of a specified kind
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irritable (related)
(Med.) Excessively or pathologically sensitive to a stimulus
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unfriendly (related)
Not friendly; hostile; mean
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the defensive (related)
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defensively (related)
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tactical (related)
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rearguard (related)
0
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midfield (related)
0
0
scrummage (related)
0
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rear-guard (related)
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protective
Adapted or intended to afford protection.
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1
protecting
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1
defending
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1
shielding
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1
warding-off
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1
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watchful
Characterized by vigilance
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1
wary
Wary is defined as watchful or cautious.
0
1
preventive
Carried out to deter expected aggression by hostile forces.
0
1
averting
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1
foiling
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1
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balking
0
1
arresting
Attracting attention; interesting; striking
0
1
checking
0
1
opposing
That opposes or oppose; on the opposite side.
0
1
resistive
Tending to resist
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1
armored
Covered with armor, as a ship or the face of a fortification; armor-plated.
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1
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in opposition
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1
aggressive (antonym)
Inclined to behave in an actively hostile fashion:
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1
offensive (antonym)
Of, relating to, or designed for attack:
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1
undefensive (antonym)
Not defensive.
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1
unprotective (antonym)
Not protective.
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1
unwatchful (antonym)
Not watchful
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unwary (antonym)
Lacking caution as a result of naïveté or inexperience
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1
justificative
Serving as justification.
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1
justificatory
Justifying; serving to uphold or vindicate
0
1
defensive attitude
an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive')
0
1
self-defensive
0
1
self-preservative
0
1
frustrating
Discouraging; causing annoyance or anger by excessive difficulty
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2
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thwarting
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2
on-the-defensive
(Idiomatic) Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
0
2
in self-defense
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2
self-protective
Serving or designed to protect oneself.
0
2
Find another word for defensive. In this page you can discover 53 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for defensive, like: attacking, guarding, touchy, combative, prickly, armed, irritable, unfriendly, the defensive, defensively and tactical.
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Defensive Sentence Examples

  • All I know is that he gets defensive when I mention Uncle Fabrice.

  • Every time the subject of your father came up, you got defensive and I backed off because I was afraid of losing you.

  • "I did it as a defensive measure," Cynthia said.

  • He emerged from his defensive position, pausing near her.

  • Some of his innate defensive powers remained, or she would've turned him to stone or the Other would've vaporized him.

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Words near defensive in the Thesaurus