defensive
WordReference English Thesaurus © 2025
Synonyms:
protective Collocations, protecting, defending, shielding, guarding, safeguarding, warding off, watchful, wary Collocations, guarded, preventive, averting, forestalling, foiling, balking, arresting, checking, frustrating Collocations, thwarting, opposing, resistive, withstanding, on the defensive, in self-defense, self-justifying, touchy Collocations, prickly, self-protective, armed, irritable, unfriendly Collocations, armored , armoured , covering Collocations
Antonyms:
offensive Collocations, aggressive Collocations, combative, unprotective, self-assured, self-confident Collocations, confident Collocations, overconfident