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.
“But each disaster is a teachable moment, and I’m afraid the defensive tone of this report suggests a limited institutional capacity to learn from bitter experience.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
And they see “longer-term upside,” given that even as the market slid in March, defensive stocks were underperformers meaning investors were taking that pullback in stride.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
Oppenheimer recommends buying Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, and Apple, while 22V Research favors defensive names like PepsiCo and CVS.
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
The strikes marked a “threshold-crossing event” for Gulf air forces, moving from using them in defensive to offensive ways.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
We watch as the Colts hike the ball and our defensive linemen close in on the quarterback.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
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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