self-defence
noun
the act of defending oneself, one's actions, ideas, etc
self-defensive
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a word derived from
self-defence.
-
a word derived from
self-defense.
self-defensenounthe act of defending one's person when physically attacked, as by countering blows or overcoming an assailant.
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.
"The policy of continuously strengthening the country's self-defensive nuclear deterrent, as set out by the nation's leader, is an irreversible course that must be implemented without fail," she added.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
With apologies to Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan, Tuesday morning’s Oscar nominations show was a ridiculous, self-defensive mess and, as it turns out, completely unnecessary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 8, 2022
Despite her self-defensive inclination towards burning bridges, Mitski’s ability and desire to write songs that people connect with has won out.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 23, 2018
But it could also be a self-defensive bias against work that might seem too Lilith Fair, Sarah McLachlan’s all-female summer music festival that lasted three years and was the top-grossing touring festival of 1997.
From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2017
The virtue, I repeat, which is merely self-defensive is not serviceable even, I suspect, to himself.
From President Wilson's Addresses by Harper, George McLean
