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   De·fen·sive

   /dəˈfensiv/

   

   adjective

   • 1. used or intended to defend or protect: "troops in defensive positions" Similar defendingguardingsafeguardingprotectingprotectiveshieldingscreeningwarywatchfulavertingwithstandingopposingOpposite attacking
   • ▪ (in sports) relating to or intended as defense: "a defensive player"
   • 2. very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism: "he was very defensive about that side of his life" Similar self-justifyingoversensitivethin-skinnedeasily offendedpricklyparanoidneuroticinformal:uptighttwitchyrare:umbrageousOpposite confident

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- ‘warded off’, from the verb defendere (see defend).

   Scrabble Points: 16

   • D

     2

   • E

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   • F

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   • E

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   • N

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   • S

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   • I

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   • V

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   • E

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