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

The best news here is the lack of defensiveness and arrogance that has been the typical academic response to criticism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

“At a moment when public trust is already shaken, doubling down with defensiveness only deepens the concern Angelenos have about accountability at LA28.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

That mix of AI exposure and defensiveness might be appealing to a number of investors.

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

He has found that he can find out much of what he needs to know just by focusing on what he calls the Four Horsemen: defensiveness, stonewalling, criticism, and contempt.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell