defensives

noun

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

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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
  1. guards
  2. lookouts
Noun
  • Police reinforcements were called late Saturday to the temporary accommodation center for asylum seekers in Sintiki, a few kilometers (miles) from the Bulgarian border, after migrants threw rocks at guards, according to police.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Parents will be dropping off students, children will be navigating new routes, and nearly 250 city crossing guards will be out each day to help families cross safely.
    — Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of guards
Noun
  • Panoramic lookouts and majestic oaks alternate as the trail winds its way upward.
    — Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Dogs are natural lookouts who love to survey their territory.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Definition of lookouts

Browse Nearby Words

defensive
defensives
defer
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Cite this Entry

“Defensives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensives. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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