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.

Once on the offensive, in most places across Myanmar the resistance is now on the defensive.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

During a sit-down interview with a KTLA-TV reporter in Los Angeles in early May, Becerra went immediately on the defensive — questioning whether it was a “gotcha piece.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 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

That leaves Baltimore with an elite talent on the defensive line—along with both of the first-round picks that they were set to send to Las Vegas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

But off camera, his confidence was paper-thin, and he could be quickly thrown on the defensive.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge