on the 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.
In the one debate he participated in, Pratt put Bass on the defensive, turned Raman into a tongue-tied mess, kept his answers sharp and relatable, and even earned the praise of the moderators.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
“Every position matters. So, I was trying to make plays and not only offense, but on the defensive side. And rebound, and all that. So, that’s what I was doing.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
OpenAI’s top executives are finalizing plans for a major strategy shift to refocus the company around coding and business users, recognizing that a “do everything all at once” strategy has put them on the defensive.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026
PayPal, the fintech payments platform, has been on the defensive, down 45% from its most recent 52-week high, even after a 6% pop Monday on takeover speculation.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
Shanti said in that suspicious way that always put Nicole on the defensive.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
