defense mechanism

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See synonyms for defense mechanism on Thesaurus.com

noun

Physiology. the defensive reaction of an organism, as against a pathogenic microorganism.

Psychology. an unconscious process, as denial, that protects an individual from unacceptable or painful ideas or impulses.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of defense mechanism

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby defense mechanism

Defender of the Faith, defenestrate, defenestration, defense, defenseman, defense mechanism, defensible, defensive, defensive architecture, defensive back, defensive driving

How to use defense mechanism in a sentence

They could reboot the body’s normal defense mechanisms, making the immune system see the enemy.
Triggering the Body’s Defenses to Fight Cancer - Issue 108: Change|Lina Zeldovich|November 3, 2021|Nautilus
Your husband especially lit up the page, but you, your daughter and son-in-law also did to some degree, maybe reflecting learned behaviors or defense mechanisms.
Carolyn Hax: An estrangement, a new baby and a grandparent caught in the middle|Carolyn Hax|September 22, 2021|Washington Post
Coming too close to a porcupine can make it agitated and nervous, and it may deploy its best defense mechanism—swinging its thickly quilled tail at you in the hopes of lodging a few spines into your skin.
How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine|Natalie Wallington|September 17, 2021|Popular-Science
They prefer to make smaller gains over a shorter span of time to demonstrate that they are competent leaders, which is an understandable defense mechanism.
Take your campaigns to deeper levels by disrupting the peace|Max Braun|December 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch

Turning a bacterial defense mechanism into one of the most powerful tools in genetics has earned Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
Gene-editing tool CRISPR wins the chemistry Nobel|Tina Hesman Saey|October 7, 2020|Science News
But she was young, and she used work as a defense mechanism.
‘Matilda’ Star Mara Wilson Reviews ‘Matilda the Musical’|Ramin Setoodeh|April 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I think this is, among liberals anyway, a defense mechanism.
Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney and the Magical Powers of a Lie|Michael Tomasky|April 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Is this a defense mechanism, a way of not quite looking at what my mother has become?
This Week’s Hot Reads: April 9, 2012|Nicholas Mancusi, Malcolm Jones|April 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“The hierarchy of things is a kind of defense mechanism that just alienates,” says Koons.
Jeff Koons: One of Today's 10 Most Important Artists|Blake Gopnik|June 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Historical myopia must be an evolutionary defense mechanism of the human species.
Why Washington Won't Prevent Another Meltdown|Jeff Madrick|October 28, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The crowds delusion of persecution, conspiracy, or oppression is thus a defense mechanism of this nature.
The Behavior of Crowds|Everett Dean Martin
He knew that he was merely a defense mechanism, to ward off fear: for, it wasn't true.
My Shipmate--Columbus|Stephen Wilder
I have said that the hostility of the crowd is a sort of "defense mechanism."
The Behavior of Crowds|Everett Dean Martin
Late afternoon of the next day, my defense mechanism was ready.
The Telenizer|Don Thompson
This small, rather weird-looking little creature had a dangerous defense mechanism in the spines of his back.
The Wailing Octopus|Harold Leland Goodwin

Cultural definitions for defense mechanism

defense mechanism

In psychology, a Freudian term referring to an unconscious avoidance of something that produces anxiety or some other unpleasant emotion. For example, someone who blots out the memory of a terrible accident is using a defense mechanism. Regression and sublimation are common defense mechanisms.

defense mechanism

Origin of defense mechanism

Words nearby defense mechanism

Words related to defense mechanism

How to use defense mechanism in a sentence

Cultural definitions for defense mechanism