protectiveness
Americannoun
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the inclination or tendency to try to protect another, such as a child.
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the quality of being effective protection against infection, damage, theft, or other harm.
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.
Even—or perhaps especially—in his anguish, he never lets us in, as if his protectiveness toward Cora stretches to his audience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
She said it had been, however, "hard to shake a certain protectiveness" after knowing someone since they were 10.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2025
Webby, the St. Jude researcher, said the work supports other research that has looked at the potential protectiveness of prior exposure to flu viruses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025
While Hüller felt deep affection, even a protectiveness for Sandra, her relationship with Hedwig in “The Zone of Interest” was radically different.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 12, 2023
His strength, that protectiveness he radiates, it doesn’t mean she’s weak.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
