as in defensive
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
the cat drew back its ears and sank into a protective posture as the dog approached it
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Recent Examples of protective
The agency has 29 field protective specialists who assist with patrols and 21 administrative protective specialists who secure MARTA facilities.
—
Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
Vanegas Parra secured an emergency protective order.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Meanwhile, Garner, 54, and Collins, 37, stuck with straw-like styles that were posh and protective enough for sunny days in the garden and outdoor sporting events, respectively.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Although flavanol supplements seemed to show benefits in the COSMOS study, relying on pills or capsules instead of whole foods means missing out on other protective compounds found in plant foods.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 16 June 2026
Dish soap strips away the protective wax and can actually dull or damage the paint over time, leaving it more vulnerable to scratches and fading.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
This regular practice also reinforces the factory protective coatings that prevent rust and deterioration.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
There were moments in Germany when Bellingham, under more scrutiny than ever before, could have done with the protective arm and guiding hand of Henderson.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 16 June 2026
He was taken into custody Sunday by the River Oaks Police Department on a charge of violating a bond or protective order.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
Vanegas Parra secured an emergency protective order.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Meanwhile, Garner, 54, and Collins, 37, stuck with straw-like styles that were posh and protective enough for sunny days in the garden and outdoor sporting events, respectively.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Although flavanol supplements seemed to show benefits in the COSMOS study, relying on pills or capsules instead of whole foods means missing out on other protective compounds found in plant foods.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 16 June 2026
Dish soap strips away the protective wax and can actually dull or damage the paint over time, leaving it more vulnerable to scratches and fading.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
This regular practice also reinforces the factory protective coatings that prevent rust and deterioration.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
There were moments in Germany when Bellingham, under more scrutiny than ever before, could have done with the protective arm and guiding hand of Henderson.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 16 June 2026
He was taken into custody Sunday by the River Oaks Police Department on a charge of violating a bond or protective order.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
defensive
Adjective
-
This clinching game was what many observers expected the series to be like between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads of two-plus goals disappear in the first three games.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Drafted seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2011 out of Missouri, Smith had one of the most explosive starts for a defensive player in NFL history.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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