as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a self-protective gesture to ward off the blow
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Recent Examples of self-protective
This self-protective habit can leave you struggling and the relationship seeming unbalanced and isolating for both partners.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
He’s worked hard to make his way in this world, and part of his cocksure attitude is self-protective.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025
For some people, that discomfort is enough to trigger a self-protective instinct to deflect, blame, or jump to rationalizations, Dr. Kelley explains.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 May 2025
Just as with mother wounds, father wounds can manifest in two contrasting ways: clinging to partners for stability or keeping emotional distance as a self-protective measure.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
And the best-of-all-possible-worlds thesis had another self-protective feature that Voltaire’s satire ignores.
—Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Advertisement The cars are also equipped with self-protective features.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
When the stress builds to burnout and self-protective shutting down, job search stalls.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2024
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
He’s worked hard to make his way in this world, and part of his cocksure attitude is self-protective.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025
For some people, that discomfort is enough to trigger a self-protective instinct to deflect, blame, or jump to rationalizations, Dr. Kelley explains.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 May 2025
Just as with mother wounds, father wounds can manifest in two contrasting ways: clinging to partners for stability or keeping emotional distance as a self-protective measure.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
And the best-of-all-possible-worlds thesis had another self-protective feature that Voltaire’s satire ignores.
—Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Advertisement The cars are also equipped with self-protective features.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
When the stress builds to burnout and self-protective shutting down, job search stalls.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-protective
Adjective
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The site is also relatively isolated from human activity due to chemical contamination, creating a protective bubble for wildlife.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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The oldest, Josiah, who’s 16, has become more protective of his younger brothers, his great aunts said.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Unfortunately, their defensive struggles continued once again.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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Pittsburgh committed two other penalties on the final drive, but defensive back DeShon Elliott was able to knock the final throw down.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-protective. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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