protective

as in defensive
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression the cat drew back its ears and sank into a protective posture as the dog approached it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protective
defensive
Adjective
  • After two years of defensive decline, Arenado is back to reminding the baseball world why he’s won 10 Gold Gloves.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • This behavior, where the gecko flicks dirt over itself, might be a grooming response or a defensive tactic against insects.
    Real-Time news team, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protective. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on protective

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!