defensively

de·fen·sive

 (dĭ-fĕn′sĭv)

adj.

1. Intended or appropriate for defending; protective.

2.

a. Intended to withstand or deter aggression or attack: a defensive weapons system; defensive behavior.

b. Of or relating to the effort to prevent an opponent from gaining points in a game or athletic contest.

c. Performed so as to avoid risk, danger, or legal liability: defensive driving; defensive medicine.

3. Of or relating to defense.

4. Psychology Constantly protecting oneself from criticism, exposure of one's shortcomings, or other real or perceived threats to the ego.

n.

1. A means of defense.

2. An attitude or position of defense.

Idiom:

on the defensive

Prepared to withstand or counter aggression or attack.

---

de·fen′sive·ly adv.

de·fen′sive·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adv.	1.	defensively - in an apologetic and defensive manner; "`I felt it better you should know,' said Sir Cedric defensively"
	2.	defensively - in a defensive manner; "the general conviction that our side is in the right and acting defensively over what Russians call the German question and Americans the Berlin crisis" offensively - in an aggressive manner; "`In this crisis, we must act offensively,' the President said"; "the admiral intends to act offensively in the Mediterranean"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

defensively

adverb in self-defence, in defence, suspiciously, on the defensive `It's nothing to do with me,' he said defensively.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

defensively

[dɪˈfensɪvlɪ] ADV [say] → en tono defensivo (Sport) [play] → de defensa

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

defensively

[dɪˈfɛnsɪvli] adv

[say] → sur la défensive

[play] → défensivement

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

defensively

adv (also Sport) → defensiv

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007