Defensive synonyms and antonyms

dĭ-fĕn'sĭv

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Part of speech:

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

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

  • I got some ideas and I have a few feelers out, Fred answered, a defensive tone in his voice.

  • Take it easy, do not become defensive and reply in a considered way.

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Words near defensive in the Thesaurus