defensive
English Thesaurus
1. an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') (noun.cognition)
| hypernym | : | attitude, mental attitude, |
| definition | : | a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways (noun.cognition) |
2. intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack (adj.all)
| similar | : | antiaircraft, |
| definition | : | designed for defense from a surface position against air attack (adj.all) |
| similar | : | antisubmarine, |
| definition | : | defensive against enemy submarines (adj.all) |
| similar | : | antitank, |
| definition | : | designed for defense against armored vehicles (adj.all) |
| similar | : | defending, |
| definition | : | attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring (adj.all) |
| similar | : | en garde, |
| definition | : | (fencing) in a defensive stance (adj.all) |
| also | : | protective, |
| definition | : | intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind (adj.all) |
3. attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing (adj.all)
4. an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') (noun.cognition)
5. intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack (adj.all)
| antonym | : | offensive, |
| definition | : | for the purpose of attack rather than defense (adj.all) |
| derivation | : | defend, |
| definition | : | be on the defensive; act against an attack (verb.competition) |
| derivation | : | defend, guard, hold, |
| definition | : | protect against a challenge or attack (verb.competition) |
6. attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing (adj.all)
| derivation | : | defensive, defensive attitude, |
| definition | : | an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') (noun.cognition) |
| derivation | : | justify, vindicate, |
| definition | : | show to be right by providing justification or proof (verb.communication) |
| derivation | : | defend, maintain, |
| definition | : | state or assert (verb.communication) |
7. an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') (noun.cognition)
8. intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack (adj.all)
| antonym | : | offensive, |
| definition | : | for the purpose of attack rather than defense (adj.all) |
| derivation | : | defend, |
| definition | : | be on the defensive; act against an attack (verb.competition) |
| derivation | : | defend, guard, hold, |
| definition | : | protect against a challenge or attack (verb.competition) |
9. attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing (adj.all)
| derivation | : | defensive, defensive attitude, |
| definition | : | an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') (noun.cognition) |
| derivation | : | justify, vindicate, |
| definition | : | show to be right by providing justification or proof (verb.communication) |
| derivation | : | defend, maintain, |
| definition | : | state or assert (verb.communication) |
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