be/get defensive about sth
about 后接引起敏感或辩解的话题；get 强调从平静变得戒备。
She gets defensive about her accent.
她对自己的口音很敏感，一提到就要辩解。
辩解的；辩护的；对批评过于敏感的；戒备的；防守的；守势的；防范的；预防性的；用于防御的；保护性的。
relating to or used for defence; protective
用于防御的；保护性的。
Intended for defence; protective.
旨在阻止攻击的。
Intended to deter attack.
用于防御或威慑攻击的
intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack
以最小化风险的方式进行的。
Performed so as to minimise risk.
试图在言语或文字中辩解或辩护的
attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing
对批评或干扰表现出过度敏感；过于敏感；皮薄。
Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism or intrusion; oversensitive; thin-skinned.
一种保龄球或守场策略,旨在防止对方得分；一种击球策略,旨在防止出局。
Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.
与防御有关的,而不是攻击。
Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.
处于防御状态或姿态的。
In a state or posture of defense.
The team adopted a defensive strategy to protect their lead.
球队采取了防守策略来保护他们的领先优势。
用法提示：这里defensive作形容词，表示“防守的”，修饰strategy。
AI contextual example
She became defensive when questioned about her decision.
当被问及她的决定时，她变得有戒心。
用法提示：这里defensive作形容词，表示“有戒心的；辩护的”，描述人的状态。
AI contextual example
He made a defensive remark to counter the criticism.
他发表了一番辩护性的话来反驳批评。
用法提示：这里defensive作形容词，表示“辩护的”，修饰remark。
AI contextual example
about 后接引起敏感或辩解的话题；get 强调从平静变得戒备。
She gets defensive about her accent.
她对自己的口音很敏感，一提到就要辩解。
defensive of 表示极力保护、维护某人或某物，语气偏袒。
He is very defensive of his younger brother.
他非常护着他的弟弟。
defensive 作定语直接修饰名词，表示“防御用的、防守的”。
The army built defensive walls around the city.
军队在城市周围修建了防御墙。
较defensive更强调主动“保护”，口语和书面语都常见；而defensive更侧重“防御性”的姿态或装备，在军事及体育语境中更常用。
常用于正式或政策语境，如儿童保护、数据安全等，强调系统性的安全措施；不如defensive广泛用于日常或运动语境。
多作定语，指处于防守状态或执行防守任务的（如defending team）；比defensive更具体强调“正在防守”的动作，一般不宜替换比喻性的defensive。
grammar · medium
易错句子We must defensive our country against attack.
正确表达We must defend our country against attack.
defensive 是形容词，只能作定语或表语，不能带宾语作谓语动词；表示“保卫”的动词是 defend。汉语“防御”既能当名词也能当动词，受此影响容易把英语的形容词直接当动词用。
grammar · medium
易错句子She became defensive to my questions.
正确表达She became defensive about my questions.
defensive 表示“对……敏感/戒备”时固定搭配介词 about（也可用 over），不能用 to；to 只表示方向或对象，不能表达“对某事反应敏感”这一含义。
grammar · medium
易错句子The team was in the defensive after losing the lead.
正确表达The team was on the defensive after losing the lead.
表示“处于防御/守势”的固定短语是 on the defensive，介词必须用 on；这是把汉语“处于防御状态”逐字直译成 in 造成的搭配错误。
此处取“防御的；用于防卫的”义，反义词 offensive 取“进攻的”义；不用于“辩解/戒备”等义项。
防御性驾驶
The course teaches defensive driving techniques to avoid accidents.
这门课教授防御性驾驶技巧，以避免事故。
防御性武器
The country claims the missile system is a defensive weapon.
该国声称该导弹系统是防御性武器。
防守姿态；守势
After losing the lead, the team fell into a defensive position.
失去领先优势后，该队陷入防守态势。
对……过于敏感；对……戒备
She is defensive about her English level.
她对她的英语水平很敏感。
辩解的语气
His defensive tone suggested he felt guilty.
他辩解的语气表明他感到内疚。
ensive
ensive
ensive
ensive
defens
de- (away) + fens (strike, from Latin fendere) + -ive (adjective suffix)
de- (away) + fend (strike)
de- (away) + fens (strike) + -e (noun ending)
of- (against) + fens (strike) + -ive (adjective suffix)
指身体或态度上呈防御性的姿态，如采取防守姿态。
与防御性行为相关，指为降低风险或应对攻击而制定的计划。
指具体行动方法，常用于体育或竞争中防守方面的安排。
物理或抽象层面起保护作用的阻碍物，体现防御的功能。
指防止攻击的动作或角色，与防御概念紧密相关。
处于防御状态；采取守势
The team was on the defensive for most of the second half.
下半场大部分时间里，该队都在防守。
使某人处于守势
His sharp criticism put her on the defensive.
他尖锐的批评使她处于守势。
变得戒备；急于辩解
Don't get defensive; I'm just trying to help.
别急着辩解，我只是想帮忙。
Choose the next layer that will help you use defensive with more confidence.
Recommended next
Preparing Confusing words
Complete this area with confusing words.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.