defensive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Financial markets are likely to remain defensive as the latest developments put an already fragile cease-fire at risk, said UOB’s global economics and markets research team.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
He’s staying on the defensive until oil flows normalize, betting on companies with strong balance sheets and those involved in the AI infrastructure buildout, such as John Deere, Caterpillar, and HVAC-maker Johnson Controls.
From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026
Megan Jones replaced Stratford as England captain and stepped up with a strong defensive performance, picking up the player of the match.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
When firefighters first arrived, they were quickly forced out of the building due to “extremely rapid fire growth” and assumed a defensive position, battling the blaze with high-volume hoses, according to the Ontario Fire Department.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Instead, he was startlingly aggressive, forcing Bobby into the defensive position he hated.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Vocabulary lists containing defensive
ASVAB Word Knowledge
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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Tone and Point of View, List 1
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