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A Writer's Dictionary:

on the defensive Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with O » on remand ... on the same wavelength » on the defensive


defensive
adj
    1. Defending or ready to defend.
      Thesaurus: protective, shielding, safeguarding, watchful, preventive, averting; Antonym: offensive.
    2. Attempting to justify one's actions when criticized or when expecting criticism.
      Thesaurus: contentious, combative, bellicose, competitive, argumentative, prickly.
Derivative: defensively
adverb
    Derivative: defensiveness
    noun
      Idiom: on the defensive
        Defending oneself or prepared to defend oneself against attack or criticism.
      Etymology: 15c: from Latin defensivus.



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