Synonyms for defensive
dɪˈfɛn sɪvde·fen·sive

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defensive, defensive attitudeadjective

   an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive')

   Synonyms:
   defensive attitude

   Antonyms:
   tip-and-run, unapologetic, predatory, antipersonnel, on the offensive(p), invading, attacking(a), marauding, incursive, hit-and-run, assaultive, offensive, invasive, raiding

2. defensiveadjective

   intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack

   "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"

   Synonyms:
   justificative, justificatory

   Antonyms:
   incursive, offensive, antipersonnel, invading, predatory, attacking(a), invasive, tip-and-run, on the offensive(p), assaultive, unapologetic, raiding, hit-and-run, marauding

3. defensive, justificative, justificatoryadjective

   attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing

   Synonyms:
   justificative, vindicatory, justificatory

   Antonyms:
   antipersonnel, offensive, predatory, incursive, on the offensive(p), marauding, invasive, attacking(a), unapologetic, raiding, assaultive, tip-and-run, hit-and-run, invading

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defensive":

   defense, defence

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How to use defensive in a sentence?

1. Merlin Batchelor:

   I just wanted a tank. I always wanted to build a castle one day and it seemed to go with the whole defensive theme.

2. Ingo Speich:

   When we talk to companies it is pretty difficult to convince them to give cash back to shareholders, banks are reluctant to give them liquidity and we have a pretty volatile market environment, with Greece and the European Central Bank (buying bonds) and so on...They want to be defensive.

3. John Kirby:

   The current situation demands that we reinforce the deterrent and defensive posture on NATO's eastern flank.

4. Ray Lewis:

   This is a tough one. I love Goose like a brother, from the first day we met, I knew that life was different. I knew he was someone who would change my life forever. He was a one-of-a-kind person who made you feel important and special. You can never replace a man like that. TONY SIRAGUSA, SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, DEAD AT 55 Fox Sports field reporter Tony Siragusa works the sidelines during a game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Dec. 30, 2012, in Detroit. (Leon Halip/Getty Images).

5. Damon Stoudamire:

   We’re not happy about losing. We’re past that here, we had a lot of opportunities. We missed a lot of open shots. When (Gonzaga) needed to turn it up another notch, they did on the defensive end.