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
Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
Green Bay’s pass rushers weren’t good enough, so Hafley resorted to exotic pressures featuring the likes of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper or safety Xavier McKinney as one of four pass rushers while defensive linemen dropped into coverage.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
Video has even surfaced on social media of the college defensive lineman working out with former NFL defensive great Aaron Donald.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Adjective
And how the Green Bay Packers only needed to give up two first-round picks and a soon-to-be 30-year-old defensive tackle (and $188 million) to get him.
—Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 30 Aug. 2025
Green Bay’s pass rushers weren’t good enough, so Hafley resorted to exotic pressures featuring the likes of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper or safety Xavier McKinney as one of four pass rushers while defensive linemen dropped into coverage.
—Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
And so Dinkins found himself on the defensive for days on end.
—Jonathan Mahler, Curbed, 1 Aug. 2025
Video has even surfaced on social media of the college defensive lineman working out with former NFL defensive great Aaron Donald.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defensive
guard
Noun
-
At his weekly news conference Monday in Evanston, Braun told reporters he was caught off guard by Sumrall’s comments but also understood them.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Kiki Rice believes Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has set herself apart in the WNBA Rookie of the Year race.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensive. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share