as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a self-protective gesture to ward off the blow
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Recent Examples of self-protective
When things move fast, when expectations are unclear or when there’s a fear of looking bad, people naturally go into self-protective mode.
—
Saby Waraich, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
For some people, that discomfort is enough to trigger a self-protective instinct to deflect, blame, or jump to rationalizations, Dr. Kelley explains.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 May 2025
Just as with mother wounds, father wounds can manifest in two contrasting ways: clinging to partners for stability or keeping emotional distance as a self-protective measure.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
And the best-of-all-possible-worlds thesis had another self-protective feature that Voltaire’s satire ignores.
—Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Advertisement The cars are also equipped with self-protective features.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
When the stress builds to burnout and self-protective shutting down, job search stalls.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2024
Interacting with family that hurt him in the past is likely triggering, but some of his behavior goes beyond self-protective and has become unkind.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024
Your body might react to these disturbing thoughts, going into self-protective survival mode.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 19 Sep. 2024
Saby Waraich, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
For some people, that discomfort is enough to trigger a self-protective instinct to deflect, blame, or jump to rationalizations, Dr. Kelley explains.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 May 2025
Just as with mother wounds, father wounds can manifest in two contrasting ways: clinging to partners for stability or keeping emotional distance as a self-protective measure.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
And the best-of-all-possible-worlds thesis had another self-protective feature that Voltaire’s satire ignores.
—Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Advertisement The cars are also equipped with self-protective features.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2025
When the stress builds to burnout and self-protective shutting down, job search stalls.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2024
Interacting with family that hurt him in the past is likely triggering, but some of his behavior goes beyond self-protective and has become unkind.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024
Your body might react to these disturbing thoughts, going into self-protective survival mode.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 19 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-protective
defensive
Adjective
-
It is considered one of the most impressive defensive structures from the Italian Renaissance.—
Elisabetta Tosi,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Since the appointment of Miguel Cardoso at the end of last year, the Portuguese coach has introduced more defensive discipline and a greater focus on set pieces.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-protective. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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