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.

All that’s left are defensive denials, evasions of Nazi collaboration and the faint hope that something higher has survived.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Ange Postecoglu - another of Guardiola's admirers - also used the tactic when he was Tottenham manager, with Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie narrow in the build-up alongside their defensive midfielder.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Since at least the Obama administration, the U.S. had been largely focused on defensive measures to protect elections, like multifactor authentication and encryption, which make it harder to compromise systems in the first place.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

For all of Arsenal’s control during attacking set pieces, however, it was a defensive set piece that nearly sent them off course.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

Ira’s face was strained and taut and queerly defensive, as if she had been hurt and was wondering where the next blow would fall.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya