defensive
Definitions
Used or intended to protect against attack.
防御的，防守的
Quick to defend oneself against criticism; anxious and over-sensitive.
（对批评）过于敏感的，戒备的
A position or attitude of defense (chiefly in 'on the defensive').
守势（主要用于 on the defensive）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedde- (away) + fens (strike) + -ive (tending to) = 'tending to strike attacks away.' The military sense (defensive wall) extended to personality: a defensive person reacts to any criticism as if it were an attack, throwing up a guard. It is the mirror of offensive — warding off versus striking out.
Root fens still carries 8 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.defensive position防守立场
- 2.go on the defensive转入守势
- 3.defensive mechanism防御机制
- 4.defensive player防守队员
- 5.get defensive变得戒备
Example Sentences
- 1.
The team switched to a defensive strategy in the second half.
- 2.
Don't get so defensive — I'm just offering some feedback.
- 3.
When questioned about the delay, he became very defensive.
- 4.
The army was forced onto the defensive after the surprise attack.
Easily Confused
defensive vs offensive — Same root, opposite direction. Defensive blocks blows coming at you (a defensive wall, a defensive reply). Offensive sends blows out (an offensive attack, an offensive remark). If you are protecting, it's defensive; if you are striking or insulting, it's offensive.