📖 WordNook

defensive

adjective
  1. intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
    “The defensive turrets located around the castle walls were the primary factor that aided in the winning of the battle.”
  2. attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
    “The peer-reviewed essay is rather defensive and attempts to refute all of the recently spread rumors concerning the study.”
    justificative
noun
  1. an attitude of defensiveness
    “I was on the defensive when I heard that people thought I was twenty years older than I really was.”
    defensive attitude