CEFR C1

defensive

adjective

Meaning

Used to protect yourself from criticism or attack.

Examples

He became defensive when asked about his mistakes.
The company's defensive strategy aimed to prevent a hostile takeover.

Synonyms: guarded, protective, wary, vigilant, solicitous

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defensive (C1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /dɪˈfɛnsɪv/

Definition

Used to protect yourself from criticism or attack.

Examples

He became defensive when asked about his mistakes.
The company's defensive strategy aimed to prevent a hostile takeover.
She adopted a defensive tone, feeling unfairly accused.

How to Use defensive

defensive about (prepositional phrase): Feeling anxious or protective regarding a particular subject. — "She's very defensive about her age."
defensive of (prepositional phrase): Protecting something or someone from criticism or attack. — "He was always defensive of his younger brother."

Synonyms of defensive

Words with a similar meaning to defensive:

Antonyms of defensive

Words with the opposite meaning to defensive:

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