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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
Adjective
  • Miami also only allowed 101 points per 100 possessions during its two-game play-in tournament run for a defensive rating that would have ranked No. 1 in the league among teams this regular season.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The 23-year-old primarily drew a defensive assignment from OG Anunoby, who was dialed in on Cunningham all evening.
    Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
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“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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