defensive
Intended for defence; protective.
Adjective 4 meanings
Intended for defence; protective.
“a defensive perimeter”
Intended to deter attack.
“a defensive missile system”
Performed so as to minimise risk.
“defensive driving”
Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.
Noun 1 meaning
A means, attitude or position of defense. Chiefly in on the defensive.
Etymology
From Middle French défensif. Morphologically defense + -ive.
Similar and opposite words
DEFENSIVE at a glance
DEFENSIVE has 9 letters and scores 16 points in Scrabble (D 2 + E 1 + F 4 + E 1 + N 1 + S 1 + I 1 + V 4 + E 1) and 18 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,675 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with defensive
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