Someone on the defensive is concerned with justifying their actions or words. They have a defensive attitude as they try to protect themselves.
Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive;
Noun
an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive'')
Adjective
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"
Adjective S.
attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
Adjective S.
serving as or appropriate for defending or protecting; "defensive fortifications"; "defensive dikes to protect against floods"
a.
Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense;
opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor.
a.
Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed
to offensive; as, defensive war.
a.
In a state or posture of defense.
n.
That which defends; a safeguard.
Defensive
A moat defensive to a house.2.
Defensive
Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive.
Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive;
That which defends; a safeguard.
Usage Examples
My dad said, 'The thing that I was told that was really helpful was that I mustn't be afraid of the things I was afraid of when I was five years old'. The shock of his childhood had put him in this defensive crouch against the world, and he needed to know that he had a nice wife and kids and it wasn't the same any more.
Riding a motorcycle on today's highways, you have to ride in a very defensive manner. You have to be a good rider and you have to have both hands and both feet on the controls at all times.
Misspelled FormDefensive, Defensive, efensive, Defensive, Dwefensive, D3efensive, D4efensive, Drefensive, Dsefensive, Ddefensive, Dwfensive, D3fensive, D4fensive, Drfensive, Dsfensive, Ddfensive, Dewfensive, De3fensive, De4fensive, Derfensive, Desfensive, Dedfensive, Dedfensive, Derfensive, Detfensive, Degfensive, Devfensive, Decfensive, Dedensive, Derensive, Detensive, Degensive, Devensive, Decensive, Defdensive, Defrensive, Deftensive, Defgensive, Defvensive, Defcensive, Defwensive, Def3ensive, Def4ensive, Defrensive, Defsensive, Defdensive, Defwnsive, Def3nsive, Def4nsive, Defrnsive, Defsnsive, Defdnsive, Defewnsive, Defe3nsive, Defe4nsive, Defernsive, Defesnsive, Defednsive, Defebnsive, Defehnsive, Defejnsive, Defemnsive, Defe nsive, Defebsive, Defehsive, Defejsive, Defemsive, Defe sive, Defenbsive, Defenhsive, Defenjsive, Defenmsive, Defen sive, Defenasive, Defenwsive, Defenesive, Defendsive, Defenxsive, Defenzsive, Defenaive, Defenwive, Defeneive, Defendive, Defenxive, Defenzive, Defensaive, Defenswive, Defenseive, Defensdive, Defensxive, Defenszive, Defensuive, Defens8ive, Defens9ive, Defensoive, Defensjive, Defenskive, Defensuve, Defens8ve, Defens9ve, Defensove, Defensjve, Defenskve, Defensiuve, Defensi8ve, Defensi9ve, Defensiove, Defensijve, Defensikve, Defensicve, Defensifve, Defensigve, Defensibve, Defensi ve, Defensice, Defensife, Defensige, Defensibe, Defensi e, Defensivce, Defensivfe, Defensivge, Defensivbe, Defensiv e, Defensivwe, Defensiv3e, Defensiv4e, Defensivre, Defensivse, Defensivde, Defensivw, Defensiv3, Defensiv4, Defensivr, Defensivs, Defensivd, Defensivew, Defensive3, Defensive4, Defensiver, Defensives, Defensived.
Other Usage ExamplesI think every time I go in a game, I have added something positive. I have gotten a rebound or made a defensive play. That is what I try to focus on.
Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terrorism have reduced the pace of military transformation and have revealed our lack of preparation for defensive and stability operations. This Administration has overextended our military.