defensiveness

American  

[dih-fen-siv-nis] / dɪˈfɛn sɪv nɪs /

noun

1. excessive concern with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one’s ego, exposure of one’s shortcomings, etc..

   Employee defensiveness may be reduced by moving the focus of the conversation from the person to the behaviors.

2. the condition of being abnormally sensitive to certain stimuli, leading to avoidance or overreaction.

   Sensory defensiveness often takes the form of increased negative reactivity to noises from fans, clocks, car doors, etc.

3. the state or condition of being prepared to defend against attack from an enemy.

   A military adviser’s job involves improving a nation's army and overall defensiveness against foreign attackers.

---

Other Word Forms

• nondefensiveness
  noun
• overdefensiveness
  noun
• semidefensiveness
  noun
• undefensiveness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of defensiveness

First recorded in 1595–1605; defensive ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Ms. Hughes plays Ruth with a combative defensiveness, and not a little contempt, as she listens with incredulity to Jay’s obvious ignorance of the Troubles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Utilities offer a mix of AI exposure and defensiveness, sporting the fourth-cheapest forward P/E and fifth-lowest PEG ratio.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

While the “debasement trade” and investor defensiveness helped push the metals rally, Razaqzada pointed out that several factors eased that defensiveness this week.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 21, 2025

Dr Gurr and Chief Executive Dr Jean Innes did not respond directly to accusations by the whistleblowers about a toxic internal culture of "retaliation" and "defensiveness".

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2025

Mustafa’s voice is sincere, without a shred of the defensiveness that creeps in when he apologizes to our parents.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan