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
The fan base for these books is famously large and protective — these are the most famous hockey romance books on the market.
—
Kennedy French, Variety, 13 May 2026
How to make homemade laundry detergent Before mixing anything, put on protective clothing — at minimum, gloves, glasses and a mask — to avoid skin or eye irritation from the ingredients.
—Ryan Brennan
may 13, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
There’s a lot of people who have been waiting for this series and feel really protective over it.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Our nuptials created a protective platform for our lives that neither of us had expected.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Scorpion Coatings is committed to offering protective coating solutions while expanding access for individuals interested in building their own businesses.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 12 May 2026
The judge approved the state's request for the subpoenas and also approved the defense's request for the protective order, permitting the medication records to be released, but restricting who gets access to them, WPBF reported.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 12 May 2026
But right now that home is draped in protective tarps as contractors stream in and out of the front door.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
Meanwhile, prosecutors agreed to Duncan's request for a protective order limiting the release of records only to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, state experts and Woods' defense team.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Kennedy French, Variety, 13 May 2026
How to make homemade laundry detergent Before mixing anything, put on protective clothing — at minimum, gloves, glasses and a mask — to avoid skin or eye irritation from the ingredients.
—Ryan Brennan
may 13, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
There’s a lot of people who have been waiting for this series and feel really protective over it.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Our nuptials created a protective platform for our lives that neither of us had expected.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
Scorpion Coatings is committed to offering protective coating solutions while expanding access for individuals interested in building their own businesses.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 12 May 2026
The judge approved the state's request for the subpoenas and also approved the defense's request for the protective order, permitting the medication records to be released, but restricting who gets access to them, WPBF reported.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 12 May 2026
But right now that home is draped in protective tarps as contractors stream in and out of the front door.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
Meanwhile, prosecutors agreed to Duncan's request for a protective order limiting the release of records only to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, state experts and Woods' defense team.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
defensive
Adjective
-
While her defensive energy contributed to the team’s depth, a scoreless night highlighted the utter absurdity of the league elevating a backup guard over the most prolific scorer in basketball history, especially on a night when the team was already missing its star center.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
-
His beloved Vikings used their top pick—the eighteenth over all—on a defensive lineman named Caleb Banks, who had immense talent but also a troubling history of left-foot issues, including breaking a bone at the Combine.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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