defensively

de·fen·sive  (d-fnsv)

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.

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de·fensive·ly adv.

de·fensive·ness n.

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"

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defensively

adverb in self-defence, in defence, suspiciously, on the defensive