as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a defensive alliance among the small nations against the aggressors
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Recent Examples of defensive
CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Tip of the hat to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who has coached so well he’s now being courted by the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns as a potential head coaching candidate.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
But that didn't stop consumers from viewing its prices as too high, which put the company on the defensive.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Adjective
Over the course of 18 months, Wei sent the officer photos and videos of the Essex, advised him of the location of various Navy ships and told him about the Essex's defensive weapons, prosecutors said.
—CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Tip of the hat to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who has coached so well he’s now being courted by the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns as a potential head coaching candidate.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
President Trump facing a political firestorm over the Jeffrey Epstein files, dividing his base and putting the president on the defensive.
—ABC News, 28 Dec. 2025
But that didn't stop consumers from viewing its prices as too high, which put the company on the defensive.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensive
Adjective
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With all that protective cushioning, the Active5K sneaker also provides an extra boost of height.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
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To blend both sides of her culture, the Black Panther actress opted for a blunt bob that uses one of the oldest protective styles in the book.—
Elise Tabin,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sports Equipment While the dishwasher isn't ideal for cleaning baseball caps, uniforms, or equipment heavily-coated with mud, a trip through a dishwasher cycle is ideal to remove bacteria and odors from mouth guards and hard plastic shin guards.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
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The Hurricanes were without guard Gal Raviv, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensive. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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