defensive
[dih-fen-siv]
- serving to defend; protective: defensive armament.
- made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude.
- of or relating to defense.
- (of stocks, securities, etc.)
- able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk: The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
- considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.
- excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.
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Origin of defensive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for defensively
Contemporary Examples
But in 1998, he sensed the urgency and the utility of taking impeachment on directly—and certainly not defensively.
“That was the decision of the lawyers,” Sharpton says defensively in the Times interview.
The Patriot subset that declines to accept racism continues to cope with the issue unevenly and defensively.
But Boredom, defensively subtitled A Lively History, is in fact a spirited, no-nonsense guide to a surprisingly contentious topic.
“I got them when I was in medical school but I never wore them,” she said, a little too defensively.
Historical Examples
"Well, that happened a good while ago," said Taterleg defensively.
The Duke Of Chimney ButteG. W. Ogden
Defensively he crouched, yet the next instant he was overthrown.
The Trail of '98Robert W. Service
The other eyed her defensively and she tried to tidy her hair with hands that shook.
Jane Journeys OnRuth Comfort Mitchell
"They're very kind among themselves," Paula said defensively.
The Stars, My BrothersEdmond Hamilton
Defensively, too, had the rider of the maherry an advantage over his antagonists.
The Boy SlavesMayne Reid
defensive
- intended, suitable, or done for defence, as opposed to offence
- rejecting criticisms of oneself or covering up one's failings
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- a position of defence
- on the defensive in an attitude or position of defence, as in being ready to reject criticism
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for defensively
defensive
c.1400 (adj. and noun), from French défensif (14c.), from Medieval Latin defensivus, from defens-, past participle stem of Latin defendere (see defend). Of persons, "alert to reject criticism," from 1919. Related: Defensively; defensiveness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with defensively
defensive
see on the defensive.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.