as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a defensive alliance among the small nations against the aggressors
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Recent Examples of defensive
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile Prince’s rim protection made life difficult for Baylor on the defensive end as the Bears hovered around 20% shooting in the first half.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2025
Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Wilks, who didn’t coach last year after being fired following the 2023 season, was hired to run the defensive of new coach Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Adjective
Coach Ime Udoka's team plays stifling defense, No. 3 in the NBA in terms of defensive rating (109.8), and No. 5 in scoring defense (108.8).
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile Prince’s rim protection made life difficult for Baylor on the defensive end as the Bears hovered around 20% shooting in the first half.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
Martin, a former Vanderbilt defensive back, would replace Chad Bowden, who left Notre Dame to be the GM at rival USC.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Wilks, who didn’t coach last year after being fired following the 2023 season, was hired to run the defensive of new coach Aaron Glenn with the New York Jets.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defensive
Cite this Entry
“Defensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defensive. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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