defensive
118
4.0
- adjective
- /dɪˈfɛnsɪv/
:
defensivo
- When he felt criticized during the meeting, he became quite defensive about his project decisions.
- a defensive reaction
- become defensive
- defensive mechanisms
Don't don't jump to any defensive stance on this.
- Don't don't jump to any defensive stance on this.
- Yeah, she's a little defensive there, but it's OK.
- People get very defensive about that sort of thing.
- And then I just become defensive, angry.
- People are very defensive about their time.
- Why are people defensive about changes you're making to your diet?
- So another one point here mentioned, I get defensive easily.
- The empathy deficits in narcissism appear to be more defensive and self protective.
- And I'll feel my, you know, my back goes up and I get defensive about it.
- Instead, they make excuses or they're defensive or they push back that there's no closure.
- You're going to lie very defensive, but that's true.
- Alec Baldwin does not turn out to be a defensive because I totally agree with Mark.
Examples
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Why are people defensive about changes you're making to your diet?
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You seem a bit defensive.
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People get very defensive about that sort of thing.
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People are very defensive about their time.
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And then I just become defensive, angry.
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Be open to other points of view and do not become defensive when challenged.
Academic text (2012) -
The employee is likely to become immediately defensive and refuse to engage further in the conversation.
Academic text (2015) -
I don't know what I did to make you so defensive.
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You don't have to get defensive.
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You don't have to be defensive, Tripp.
Synonyms
Giving a reason to defend or explain something
Gives reasons to show why something is right or okay
Antonyms
Compounds
How Defensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Defensive comes from the same root as defend and defense, with de- ('off') and fend ('push back'). A helpful way to remember the feeling sense is to think of someone trying to 'push back' at criticism, so when a person is defensive they act to protect themselves from feeling attacked.