easy
He sounded defensive when asked about the mistake.
What does Defensive mean?
Defensive means quickly trying to protect yourself.
Dictionary definition
Defensive means acting as if you must protect yourself from criticism or blame.
Example sentences
Defensive in a sentence
medium
A defensive player protects the goal.
hard
Being less defensive can make feedback easier to hear.
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Practice the meaning of Defensive
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does defensive mean?
Defensive means quickly trying to protect yourself.
Practice 2
Which choice is closest in meaning to defensive?
The choice "guarded" is closest in meaning because defensive means quickly trying to protect yourself.
Practice 3
Which choice is the best antonym or contrast for defensive?
The choice "open" is a strong contrast because defensive means quickly trying to protect yourself.
Practice complete
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Defensive
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WordDefensive.
Partadjective.
MeaningDefensive means quickly trying to protect yourself.
ExampleExample: He sounded defensive when asked about the mistake.
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Synonyms
Words like Defensive
guardedCareful and self-protective.
protectiveTrying to keep something safe.
touchyQuick to feel criticized.
Antonyms
Opposite words
Synonym practice
Want to practice defensive synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The speaker sounded defensive when asked about the delays," then compare close word choices. Practice defensive synonyms.
Word family
Defensive word family
Base word
defensive
adjective
defensive
Base form of defensive.
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Learning activities
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