as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a defensive alliance among the small nations against the aggressors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defensive
Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The defensive line is another group that stands out with its physicality and the versatility of the unit.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025
Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Martin, a former Vanderbilt defensive back, would replace Chad Bowden, who left Notre Dame to be the GM at rival USC.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Adjective
During the visit that followed the June 2024 incident, Putin and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un signed a landmark defensive pact.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The defensive line is another group that stands out with its physicality and the versatility of the unit.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
The copy invokes family, belonging, and tradition, with an emphasis that verges on the defensive.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
Martin, a former Vanderbilt defensive back, would replace Chad Bowden, who left Notre Dame to be the GM at rival USC.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share