protective

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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
defensive
Adjective
  • Dez Bryant and Nicki Minaj have been jaw-jacking on social media, and it was all sparked by an issue between Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the team’s star defensive end Micah Parsons.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • After suiting up for the Eagles during their Super Bowl-winning season, the 25-year-old defensive lineman will now take his talents to Las Vegas to make up for a key loss on the Raiders' defensive front.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry

“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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