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
defensive
Adjective
  • The Steelers still have a number of star players, including on the defensive side of the ball including former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt and 14-year veteran Cameron Heyward.
    DJ Siddiqi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • After walking Kyle Schwarber, Waldron got out of the inning thanks to another fine defensive play — Arraez diving toward the bag to catch a line drive by Bryce Harper and then touching the bag to double up Turner.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
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“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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