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

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

“I think we’re still continuing to get better in that… It’s not about whether shots go in. It’s about how we’re consistently playing and on the defensive end.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Third, if you do confront the team, you need conflict-management skills: How will you approach the problem without putting people on the defensive?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

A serious face put the smiler on the defensive, a rare smile put a nervous witness at ease.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin