Adjacent Words

Defensive definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DEFENSIVE, a.
1. That serves to defend; proper for defense; as defensive armor, which repels attacks or blows, opposed to offensive arms, which are used in attack.
2. Carried on in resisting attack or aggression; as defensive war, in distinction from offensive war, which is aggressive.
3. In a state or posture to defend.
DEFENSIVE, n. Safeguard; that which defends.
Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives.
To be on the defensive, or to stand on the defensive, is to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggrression or attack.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance" [ant: offensive]
2: attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing [syn: defensive, justificative, justificatory] n
1: an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') [syn: defensive, defensive attitude]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Date: 14th century 1. serving to defend or protect <defensive fortifications> 2. a. devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack <defensive behavior> b. of or relating to the attempt to keep an opponent from scoring in a game or contest <a player with good defensive skills> 3. a. valuable in defensive play <a defensive card in bridge> b. designed to keep an opponent from being the highest bidder <a defensive bid> • defensively adverb • defensiveness noun II. noun Date: 1601 a defensive position

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 done or intended for defence or to defend. 2 (of a person or attitude) concerned to challenge criticism. Phrases and idioms: on the defensive 1 expecting criticism. 2 in an attitude or position of defence. Derivatives: defensively adv. defensiveness n. Etymology: ME f. F défensif -ive f. med.L defensivus (as DEFEND)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Defensive De*fen"sive, a. [Cf. F. d['e]fensif.] 1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor. A moat defensive to a house. --Shak. 2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war. 3. In a state or posture of defense. --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Defensive De*fen"sive, n. That which defends; a safeguard. Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives. --Bacon. To be on the defensive, To stand on the defensive, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. You use defensive to describe things that are intended to protect someone or something. The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids... ADJ: usu ADJ n 2. Someone who is defensive is behaving in a way that shows they feel unsure or threatened. Like their children, parents are often defensive about their private lives. ADJ • defensively 'Oh, I know, I know,' said Kate, defensively. ADV • defensiveness He felt a certain defensiveness about his position. N-UNCOUNT 3. If someone is on the defensive, they are trying to protect themselves or their interests because they feel unsure or threatened. Accusations are likely to put the other person on the defensive... PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, PHR after v 4. In sports, defensive play is play that is intended to prevent your opponent from scoring goals or points against you. I'd always played a defensive game, waiting for my opponent to make a mistake. ? attacking ADJ: usu ADJ n • defensively Mexico did not play defensively. ADV: ADV after v

Moby Thesaurus

covering, custodial, defending, fostering, guardian, guarding, immunizing, parental, preventive, prophylactic, protecting, protective, safeguarding, screening, self-defensive, self-preservative, self-protective, sheltering, shielding, tutelary, vigilant, watchful