Synonyms for Defensive
dɪˈfɛn sɪvde·fen·sive

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. defensive, defensive attitudeadjective

   an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive')

   Synonyms:
   defensive attitude, defensive

   Antonyms:
   tip-and-run, unapologetic, predatory, antipersonnel, on the offensive(p), invading, attacking(a), marauding, incursive, hit-and-run, assaultive, offensive, invasive, raiding

2. defensiveadjective

   intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack

   "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"

   Synonyms:
   justificative, justificatory

   Antonyms:
   incursive, offensive, antipersonnel, invading, predatory, attacking(a), invasive, tip-and-run, on the offensive(p), assaultive, unapologetic, raiding, hit-and-run, marauding

3. defensive, justificative, justificatoryadjective

   attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing

   Synonyms:
   justificative, vindicatory, justificatory, defensive

   Antonyms:
   antipersonnel, offensive, predatory, incursive, on the offensive(p), marauding, invasive, attacking(a), unapologetic, raiding, assaultive, tip-and-run, hit-and-run, invading

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "defensive":

   defense, defence

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How to use Defensive in a sentence?

1. The North Korean spokesman:

   What the U.S. is taking the issue is not about the range but the prohibition of the launch itself using ballistic technology, this is, after all, tantamount to a demand that the DPRK should give up its self-defensive right.

2. Christy Setzer:

   It’s easy to second-guess strategy and messaging in the final days before an election, but Democrats’ plan to highlight abortion is a good one: It puts Republicans on the defensive on an issue the vast majority of Americans disagree with them on.

3. Ken Cuccinelli:

   An actual invasion permits the state to engage in defensive actions within its own territory at or near its border.

4. Anastasia Radina:

   Proper action for Ukraine right now, for support to Ukraine right now, would be weaponry, ukraine is constantly asking for weaponry and not only defensive weaponry, but also offensive weaponry. In our situation, this distinction between defensive and offensive is, frankly speaking, humiliating. In our situation, all weapons are defensive because we are defending our lands.

5. Chief Financial Marco Giordani:

   Having said that, there are no intentions to launch a tender offer. It is more a defensive move than an offensive move.