Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   defensive

   /dɪˈfɛnsɪv/

   adjective

   • 1. used or intended to defend or protect: "defensive barriers" Similar defendingguardingsafeguardingprotectingprotectiveshieldingscreeningwarywatchfulavertingwithstandingopposingOpposite attacking
   • ▪ (in sport) relating to or intended as defence: "a defensive player"
   • 2. very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism: "he was very defensive about that side of his life" Similar self-justifyingoversensitivethin-skinnedeasily offendedpricklyparanoidneuroticinformal:uptighttwitchyrare:umbrageousOpposite confident

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off’, from the verb defendere (see defend).

   Scrabble Points: 16

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • S

     1

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points