as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a defensive alliance among the small nations against the aggressors
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Recent Examples of defensive
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
Donnell Thompson Donnell Thompson, a standout 6-4, 270-pound defensive end and one of the originals on the Indianapolis Colts roster that moved from Baltimore in 1984, died in September.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Dec. 2024
Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
For the next two days, firefighters were on the defensive.
—Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defensive 
Adjective
Oregon has a defensive line that ranks 5th nationally.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 1 Jan. 2025
Donnell Thompson Donnell Thompson, a standout 6-4, 270-pound defensive end and one of the originals on the Indianapolis Colts roster that moved from Baltimore in 1984, died in September.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
Many of the country’s usual gatekeepers, including the attorney general and the director of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, have been put on the defensive.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
For the next two days, firefighters were on the defensive.
—Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for defensive
Thesaurus Entries Near defensive
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensive. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
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