Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This new, nondefensive way of talking made it possible for her to understand how his transgression hit her where she felt most insecure, and he could see it, generating remorse and forgiveness between them.

From New York Times • May 16, 2023

Making this happen will call for something that Big Journalism is notoriously bad at: An open-minded, nondefensive recognition of what’s gone wrong.

From Washington Post • Jul. 27, 2021

If you want to have an open-ended, nondefensive conversation with your mother about how bittersweet and poignant the idea of celebrating a wedding without your father is, by all means do so.

From Slate • Mar. 7, 2020

"You really want to come across as best you can as nondefensive and open and self-aware," she says.

From US News • Oct. 28, 2015

The difficult thing that managers have to do is to make people understand in a nondefensive way why things need to change and why what they’re doing now isn’t up to our standards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 22, 2015