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defensive
[ dih-fen-siv ]
adjective
- serving to defend; protective:
defensive armament.
- made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack:
defensive treaty;
a defensive attitude.
- of or relating to defense.
- (of stocks, securities, etc.)
- able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk:
The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
- considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.
- excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.
noun
- a position or attitude of defense:
to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.
- Obsolete. something that serves to defend.
defensive
/ ɪˈɛԲɪ /
adjective
- intended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence
- rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings
noun
- a position of defence
- on the defensivein an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism
Derived Forms
- ˈڱԲԱ, noun
- ˈڱԲ, adverb
Other Word Forms
- ·ڱ·· adverb
- ·ڱ··Ա noun
- ԴDz··ڱ· adjective
- non··ڱ·· adverb
- ···ڱ· adjective
- o·ver··ڱ·· adverb
- ···ڱ· adjective
- sem·i··ڱ·· adverb
- ܲ··ڱ· adjective
- un··ڱ·· adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of defensive1
Idioms and Phrases
see on the defensive .Example Sentences
But Sunday's loss at Kingsholm was a shambles, with defensive confusion evident from the first few minutes as Chiefs were cut open by Gloucester time and again.
If Hunter can also work his magic in limited defensive packages then the Jags really could have pulled off a masterstroke.
James coming up with a pair of massive defensive stops and Finney-Smith hitting a go-ahead three.
The Chargers made several late acquisitions last season who turned into key pieces, including defensive lineman Teair Tart and safety Elijah Molden.
And Stewart, Hamilton and Paul should make the defensive front even stronger.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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