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protective

protective

99 2.0
Wanting to keep someone safe from harm
  • adjective
  • /prəˈtɛktɪv/
translation icon : protector
  • Parents tend to be protective of their children, ensuring they are safe and cared for.
  • a protective mother
  • a protective attitude

I I want to be protective of the other.

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Examples

  • When threatened or criticized in any way, Apple and Augustine become protective of each other.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • They're very protective of me.

  • You become much more protective of what you allow in your brain.

  • I am more protective of my time than ever.

  • What do you want in those who have protective roles?

  • And that made me feel somewhat protective toward you.

  • I admire how protective you are of your sister, but maybe next time you might be a little more careful how you go about it.

  • He was always so protective of me growing up, even though he was younger.

  • This is just the first place that's ever felt like home, so I got really protective.

  • Multifaceted interventions that address the full range of risk and protective factors at the community level appear necessary.

    Academic text (1997)

Antonyms

8 4.4

Not giving enough care or attention when something needs it

Compounds

protective tariff
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A tax on goods from other countries that makes them more expensive to help local businesses

An object placed over something to keep it safe from damage

Clothing that keeps your body safe from injury or dangerous chemicals

A United States government agency that protects federal buildings and the people in them

protective embankment
  • Specialized
7.5

A steep slope in front of a fort made by people that protects it from attack

A layer of skin or tissue that covers and keeps a nearby body part safe

An action that keeps someone safe from danger

protective coloration
  • Specialized
4.4

Coloring on an animal that helps it hide from predators

Something you put over a thing to keep it safe from damage

protective covering
  • Specialized
3.1

An outer layer on animals or plants that keeps them safe from harm

How Protective

protective
99 2.0
caring
54 1.6
concerned
773 3.5
indifferent
46 4.4

Surface Forms

protective positive

Morphology

protective = protect (transparent) = protect + ive

Derived by the usual suffixation from 'protect'; the attitudinal sense ('showing care') is a straightforward extension of protecting.

Etymology

Protective comes from Latin parts pro- meaning 'before' and tegere meaning 'to cover', like a person who stands in front of someone to block danger. So, a protective person shows care and tries to keep someone safe from harm.