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Synonyms Antonyms
Defensive
Choose the perfect synonym or antonym for the word
quiet
itself
inspection
journalist
classification
Defensive
/dɪˈfɛnsɪv/
Acting to protect oneself from harm or criticism.
Synonyms:
protective
guarded
Antonyms:
offensive
aggressive
provocative
Examples:
Our first natural reaction is to be
defensive
.
We have them on the
defensive
.
I start getting
defensive
.
Etymology:
Derived from Old French
defensif,
stemming from Latin
defensivus,
meaning
to ward off, guard against harm.
Usage Statistics:
29 mentions per 1 million words
Often
Hint:
Frequency according to COCA
Formal Synonyms
Informal Synonyms
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