defensive

Adjective
  1. Intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack (synset 301634178)
    "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"
    also: protective - intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
    similar to:
    • antiaircraft - designed for defense from a surface position against air attack
    • antisubmarine - defensive against enemy submarines
    • antitank - designed for defense against armored vehicles
    • defending - attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring
    • en garde - (fencing) in a defensive stance
  2. Attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing (synset 301636127)
    similar to: apologetic, excusatory - offering or expressing apology
    same as: justificative, justificatory
Noun
  1. An attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') (synset 106204984)
    is a type of: attitude, mental attitude - a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
    same as: defensive attitude

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