Word Study
defenseless |
defenselessly |
defenselessness |
defensibility |
defensible |
defensive
| defensive attitude
| defensive measure
| defensive structure
| defensively
| defensiveness
defensive
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun defensive has 1 sense
- defensive(n = noun.cognition) defensive attitude - an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive'); Array is a kind of attitude, mental attitude
Derived form adjective defensive2
Adjective defensive has 2 senses
- defensive(a = adj.all) Array - intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance" Derived forms verb defend2, verb defend3
- defensive(s = adj.all) justificative, justificatory - attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing; Array Derived forms verb defend7, verb defend4, noun defensive1
Antonym: offensive
OXFORD DICTIONARY
defensive, adj.
1 done or intended for defence or to defend.
2 (of a person or attitude) concerned to challenge criticism.
1 done or intended for defence or to defend.
2 (of a person or attitude) concerned to challenge criticism.
Idiom
on the defensive
1 expecting criticism.
2 in an attitude or position of defence.
1 expecting criticism.
2 in an attitude or position of defence.
Derivative
defensively adv. defensiveness n.
Etymology
ME f. F d{eacute}fensif -ive f. med.L defensivus (as DEFEND)
THESAURUS
defensive
covering, custodial, defending, fostering, guardian, guarding, immunizing, parental, preventive, prophylactic, protecting, protective, safeguarding, screening, self-defensive, self-preservative, self-protective, sheltering, shielding, tutelary, vigilant, watchfulROGET THESAURUS
defensive
Defense
N defense, protection, guard, ward, shielding, propugnation, preservation, guardianship, area defense, site defense, self-defense, self-preservation, resistance, safeguard, balistraria, bunker, screen, camouflage, fortification, munition, muniment, trench, foxhole, bulwark, fosse, moat, ditch, entrenchment, intrenchment, kila, dike, dyke, parapet, sunk fence, embankment, mound, mole, bank, sandbag, revetment, earth work, field- work, fence, wall dead wall, contravallation, paling, palisade, haha, stockade, stoccado, laager, sangar, barrier, barricade, boom, portcullis, chevaux de frise, abatis, abattis, abbatis, vallum, circumvallation, battlement, rampart, scarp, escarp, counter-scarp, glacis, casemate, vallation, vanfos, buttress, abutment, shore, breastwork, banquette, curtain, mantlet, bastion, redan, ravelin, vauntmure, advance work, horn work, outwork, barbacan, barbican, redoubt, fort-elage, fort-alice, lines, loophole, machicolation, sally port, hold, stronghold, fastness, asylum, keep, donjon, dungeon, fortress, citadel, capitol, castle, tower of strength, tower of strength, fort, barracoon, pah, sconce, martello tower, peelhouse, blockhouse, rath, wooden walls, bulletproof vest, armored vest, buffer, corner stone, fender, apron, mask, gauntlet, thimble, carapace, armor, shield, buckler, aegis, breastplate, backplate, cowcatcher, face guard, scutum, cuirass, habergeon, mail, coat of mail, brigandine, hauberk, lorication, helmet, helm, bassinet, salade, heaume, morion, murrion, armet, cabaset, vizor, casquetel, siege cap, headpiece, casque, pickelhaube, vambrace, shako, bearskin, panoply, truncheon, garrison, picket, piquet, defender, protector, guardian, bodyguard, champion, knight-errant, Paladin, propugner, bulletproof window, hardened site, defending, defensive, mural, armed, armed at all points, armed cap-a-pie, armed to the teeth, panoplied, iron-plated, ironclad, loopholed, castellated, machicolated, casemated, defended, proof against, armored, ballproof, bulletproof, hardened, defensively, on the defense, on the defensive, in defense, at bay, pro aris et focis, Int, no surrender!, defense not defiance, Dieu defend le droit, fidei defensor, defender of the faith.
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