as in defensive
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
the cat drew back its ears and sank into a protective posture as the dog approached it
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Recent Examples of protective
If the shortage lasts too long, protective systems begin disconnecting parts of the grid to stop a wider collapse.
—
Fangxing Fran Li, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
As the intensity and depth of Ukrainian drone attacks have increased, Russian authorities have encouraged businesses to contribute to protective measures against aerial strikes.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Even the festival’s notoriously demanding crowds seemed to feel protective this time around about a medium whose future, like that of so much in the world, feels precarious and uncertain.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Connection, ritual, spirituality, friendship, and community may become protective.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Once that protective layer is compromised, even minor openings can lead to ongoing water intrusion that causes leaks, wood damage, microbial growth and structural deterioration over time.
—David Nye, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Guarding next-gen tech In testing, the system detected strain and triggered its transformation into a protective shell.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
On Earth, a powerful magnetic field generated deep within the planet's core creates a vast protective bubble, or magnetosphere, that continuously redirects those particles around the planet.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 May 2026
Existing commercial solar panels are also physically bulky systems consisting not just of photovoltaic materials but also of thick protective glass, encapsulation layers, metallic contacts, mounting hardware, and structural framing.
—New Atlas, 26 May 2026
Fangxing Fran Li, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
As the intensity and depth of Ukrainian drone attacks have increased, Russian authorities have encouraged businesses to contribute to protective measures against aerial strikes.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Even the festival’s notoriously demanding crowds seemed to feel protective this time around about a medium whose future, like that of so much in the world, feels precarious and uncertain.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026
Connection, ritual, spirituality, friendship, and community may become protective.
—Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Once that protective layer is compromised, even minor openings can lead to ongoing water intrusion that causes leaks, wood damage, microbial growth and structural deterioration over time.
—David Nye, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Guarding next-gen tech In testing, the system detected strain and triggered its transformation into a protective shell.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
On Earth, a powerful magnetic field generated deep within the planet's core creates a vast protective bubble, or magnetosphere, that continuously redirects those particles around the planet.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 May 2026
Existing commercial solar panels are also physically bulky systems consisting not just of photovoltaic materials but also of thick protective glass, encapsulation layers, metallic contacts, mounting hardware, and structural framing.
—New Atlas, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
defensive
Adjective
-
Point Loma threatened to tie the game in the sixth and probably would have done so if not for the defensive play of the game.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
-
The Diablos’ emergence showed with three sparkling defensive plays and a lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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