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.

But to nearly everyone’s astonishment, Mr. Niemann, the 19-year-old John McEnroe of chess, has put the normally unflappable Mr. Carlsen, playing the white pieces, on the defensive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 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

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

By the middle of 1985, the KGB had thrown the CIA on the defensive.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau