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
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 protective
Its propulsion system uses non-toxic materials, which allows soldiers to handle it safely without protective gear immediately after touchdown.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2025
Sam Johnson had decided to end a successful spray deodorant product line because the propellant in the cans used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the chemical compound harming the protective ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Food inside the prep refrigerator and the walk-in refrigerator lacked protective covers.
—Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The investigation came to public attention after the girl's mother filed a protective order against Pruitt in August, accusing him of stalking her daughter.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Use a vacuum to remove spiders and webs, and wear protective clothing during cleanup.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
For instance, fusion doesn’t require all the expensive, nuclear-grade concrete that creates a protective dome encasing traditional nuclear radiation.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
However, every time a cell divides and DNA is replicated, those protective caps get a little bit shorter, eventually reaching a point where cell division stops.
—New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
The lightweight formulas of summer often need a boost, like richer creams, protective mists, and glow-boosting serums to help skin, hair, and body thrive in cooler, drier air.
—Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2025
Sam Johnson had decided to end a successful spray deodorant product line because the propellant in the cans used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), the chemical compound harming the protective ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere.
—Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Food inside the prep refrigerator and the walk-in refrigerator lacked protective covers.
—Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The investigation came to public attention after the girl's mother filed a protective order against Pruitt in August, accusing him of stalking her daughter.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
Use a vacuum to remove spiders and webs, and wear protective clothing during cleanup.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
For instance, fusion doesn’t require all the expensive, nuclear-grade concrete that creates a protective dome encasing traditional nuclear radiation.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
However, every time a cell divides and DNA is replicated, those protective caps get a little bit shorter, eventually reaching a point where cell division stops.
—New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
The lightweight formulas of summer often need a boost, like richer creams, protective mists, and glow-boosting serums to help skin, hair, and body thrive in cooler, drier air.
—Essence, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
defensive
Adjective
-
Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile tried to drag him to his feet, prompting a fracas with Van Hecke’s defensive partner, Lewis Dunk, and several other players from both teams, which ended with bookings for the trio.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
While the run defense has improved this season with the addition of Kenny Clark at defensive tackle, there are still some warts for a unit that entered the game 19th in the NFL in rush yards allowed.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share