defensive

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: defencive, defective, offensive, defense, detersive, descensive, defensible, dimensive, defensative, defensin, indefensive

Antonyms: defencive, defective, offensive, defense, detersive, descensive, defensible, dimensive, defensative, defensin, indefensive

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Adjective

1. Intended for [[defence]]; [[protective]].
2. Intended to deter [[attack]].
3. Performed so as to minimise [[risk]].
4. Displaying an [[inordinate]] [[sensitivity]] to [[criticism]] or [[intrusion]]; [[oversensitive]]; [[thin-skinned]].
5. {{lb|en|cricket}} Of a [[bowling]] or [[fielding]] [[tactic]] designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a [[batting]] tactic designed to prevent being out.
6. {{lb|en|mostly|sports}} Pertaining to [[defense]], as opposed to attack.
7. In a state or posture of defense.

Noun

1. A [[means]], [[attitude]] or [[position]] of defense. Chiefly in {{m|en|on the defensive}}. {{defdate|from 16th c.}}

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.