defensive
noun
Key Types & categories Parts & wholes Related & opposite
- Word type
- noun
- verb
- adjective
- adverb
- Line style
- core relation
- instance, member or derived
- substance, domain or see-also
- Direction
- arrow points to the broader concept
- dashed outline: no word in this language
- Click any word to expand it.
Senses
Sense 1 noun
an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive')
Types & categories
- attitude hypernym
Related & opposite
- justificative derivation
Sense 2 adjective
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
defensive weapons
Related & opposite
- protective also see
- offensive antonym
- defend derivation
- guard derivation
- antiaircraft similar to
- antisubmarine similar to
- antitank similar to
- defending similar to
- en garde similar to
Sense 3 adjective
attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
Related & opposite
- defensive derivation
- rationalize derivation
- vindicate derivation
- defend derivation
- fight down derivation
- apologetic similar to
Table view of this graph
| Sense | Relation | Group | Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | derivation | Related & opposite | justificative |
| 1 | hypernym | Types & categories | attitude |
| 2 | also see | Related & opposite | protective |
| 2 | antonym | Related & opposite | offensive |
| 2 | derivation | Related & opposite | defend |
| 2 | derivation | Related & opposite | guard |
| 2 | similar to | Related & opposite | antiaircraft |
| 2 | similar to | Related & opposite | antisubmarine |
| 2 | similar to | Related & opposite | antitank |
| 2 | similar to | Related & opposite | defending |
| 2 | similar to | Related & opposite | en garde |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | defensive |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | rationalize |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | vindicate |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | defend |
| 3 | derivation | Related & opposite | fight down |
| 3 | similar to | Related & opposite | apologetic |