defensives

plural of defensive
as in guards
a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack their unexpectedly harsh words put him on the defensive

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 defensives There remains a rotation underway – financials over tech , value over growth , defensives over high-beta stocks – simply not enough to hold the indexes harmless. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensives
Noun
  • The Lakers were eliminated by Oklahoma City, who relied on standout performances from young guards Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell to overcome a quiet series from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and an injury to Jalen Williams.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Armed guards routinely patrol outside synagogues, Jewish community centers and schools.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Dogs are natural lookouts who love to survey their territory.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Wolfe is known for her quirky vacation rentals, which include the Big Idaho Potato near Boise; a Hobbit home in Chelan, Washington; a cocoon in Oregon; a tropical treehouse in Hawaii; and several Idaho fire lookouts.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defensives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensives. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on defensives

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster