Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. They are expected to wreak havoc with the Offensive Line on running plays by physically clogging up the gaps between the Center, Guards, and Tackles to prevent a running back from getting The feeling is typically elicited when you feel as though someone is being critical of you, and results in shame, sadness, and anger. Learn a new word every day. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Why people become defensive and how to address it. They may often hear themselves described as "too sensitive" or "thin-skinned." When someone has a defensive attitude, or is forced to defend something, we also say they're "on the defensive.". An agreed-upon intermediary may also be helpful in resolving the issue. All rights reserved. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. Defensiveness refers to both a feeling and a behavior. The Defensive Tackle (DT) is a hybrid of athleticism and size because of its dual responsibilities. But it's all about your recovery time: Holding onto a defensive attitude is a decidedly different way of approaching your relationship than recognizing that you're being defensive and letting it go. 4. Read our. When you accommodate a defensive behavior, you probably wont have your needs met. sive di-fen (t)-siv d-fen (t)- 1 : serving or intended to defend or protect a defensive alliance 2 : resisting or preventing attack defensive behavior Hear a word and type it out. Remain calm even if you feel like becoming defensive in return (as this won't solve anything). Blame the other person for what they are criticizing you about. That is a strong argument that defensive stocks are objectively better investments than other stocks. So in times of defensivenesswhen your natural self-protection instincts set insee if you can tap into our naturally coexistent desire to connect. As you validate your feelings of being hurt or feeling ashamed, and show compassion toward yourself for how you are feeling, you can also acknowledge the fact that you dont need to act upon the impulse to react defensively. . And we're rewarded because each thing they say and do activates the connection center of our brain. protective, watchful synonyms for defensive Compare Synonyms opposing averting conservative foiling forestalling preservative preventive thwarting arresting balking checking coping with defending frustrating guarding in opposition interrupting protecting resistive safeguarding uptight Understand that overly defensive behavior might be what is holding you back from a better version of yourself. a person who defends (someone or something). Understanding yourself can help you regulate your own emotions as well as clarify misunderstandings. And once youve composed yourself, its time for the last step. Instead, you can show yourself compassion for how you are feeling, and recognize that everyone feels this way from time to time. Click below to listen now. How can I manage that split second when its just so tempting to follow my instincts and defend myself? Conflict happens frequently in personal relationships, at work, and even in public. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Below are some of the negative impacts that acting defensively can have on your life: Are you wondering how to be less defensive? Being able to offer empathy and respect to those around you will also go a long way to avoiding the trap of reciprocal defensiveness. 3. Defensiveness is an impulsive and reactive mode of responding to a situation or conversation. Below are some ideas to get you started on a path toward being less defensive. Opposite. Acknowledging that you play some role in the problem will help to defuse the situation and allow you to work together with the other person to solve the issue. Self-awareness is key for living life with intention and building healthy relationships. We are hardwired for both connection to others and protection for ourselves. From our flagship defensive driving classroom programs to our award-winning online courses, weve already trained more than Teams using DTs generally have two on the field at a time. A defensive person can also be someone that has low self-esteem or that has a difficult time listening to criticisms about themself. Ignore the other persons defensiveness and focus on problem solving and good communication even if it feels hard. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. To save this word, you'll need to log in. offensive (ATTACKING) More examples. To wrap it all up, leave great defense to the likes of that balled-up porcupine. Delivered to your inbox! What. It pushes people away, makes us look immature, and sends a message that were unable to regulate our emotions. protective, watchful synonyms for defensive Compare Synonyms opposing averting conservative foiling forestalling preservative preventive thwarting arresting balking checking coping with defending frustrating guarding in opposition interrupting protecting resistive safeguarding uptight In regards to defensive behavior, some people are just more prone to it. Here are 12 truths about defensiveness that can help us better understand this self-protecting impulse. Perhaps its around a certain person or in a certain situation. Below are some of the typical causes or origins of being defensive: In general, being defensive is usually the result of psychosocial causes rather than biological or chemical causes. What to Do If You or a Loved One Lack Empathy, How Nitpicking Can Damage Your Relationship, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, Defensiveness: How it Works and What to Do About It. This may not be as helpful a strategy they consistently push you to concede or compromise. Conflicting, positive or strongly held? Webadjective attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing synonyms: justificative, justificatory apologetic, excusatory offering or expressing apology adjective intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack defensive weapons a defensive stance Synonyms: antiaircraft Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Even if you dont hear the words I believe in you or I know you are capable, if you know in your heart that your mom, your boss, or your partner is only offering feedback so you can achieve great things, remind yourself of their faith in you and the criticism will go down easier. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! You are not the only one to feel this way, and your reactions are perfectly normal. Opposite. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Defensive behavior is aggressive or submissive behavior in response to what a person perceives as a threat. intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression, a position of readiness to oppose actual or expected attack, their unexpectedly harsh words put him on the, Post more words for defensive to Facebook, Share more words for defensive on Twitter, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. Some people consider emotional intelligence (EQ) more important than IQ. will always be on the, France was thoroughly outplayed and was consistently on the, Experts said that Sinema's move puts the attention in the Senate squarely back on the maverick senator while putting Democrats on the, Moscow is in the embarrassing position of being on the, Post the Definition of defensive to Facebook, Share the Definition of defensive on Twitter, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. said Jem, trembling a little, and seizing his drinking-can as a, Relying too much on the offensive weapons of their acute angles instead of the, The Museum of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris possesses one of these. In the study, university students were primed by reading one of two specific passages written in the style of a news article: one said that intelligence was inherited and fixed from a young age, while the other said that intelligence could be increased substantially over the life span. What do a medieval fortress, a balled-up porcupine, and a linebacker have in common? Nglish: Translation of defensive for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of defensive for Arabic Speakers. Okay, you say, that's all fine and goodI can affirm my deepest values, interpret feedback as the fact that others believe in me, and trust that I can grow. Defensiveness refers to both a feeling and a behavior. Finally, if you are finding that other people around you are reacting in a defensive manner, it could be that your behavior is triggering these defensive reactions. The first step to stopping your defensive behavior is to actually become aware of when it is happening. Year to date through Sept. 21, the closely watched CBOE Volatility Index is up 62.5%. Adjective. In addition, its generally a good idea to remain open-minded to the ideas and perspectives of others. What do you call a defensive person? Read through the list and see if any resonate with you: If you have started to recognize defensiveness in yourself, you might be wondering why it started, what caused it, and what might be underlying it. Defensive stocks as a group have a higher Sharpe ratio than the stock market as a whole. Lets take a look at some of the common signs that you might be acting in a defensive way.. Dont hesitate to speak to a therapist, counselor, or other mental health professional. Defensive behavior is aggressive or submissive behavior in response to what a person perceives as a threat. Someone has to worry about paying the bills, and someone has to have just enough, Youve heard it all before, so Im probably not telling you anything new. In the moment, getting defensive can feel like the only way to cope with threat. Defensiveness is an impulsive and reactive mode of responding to a situation or conversation. Promoting well-being: The contribution of emotional intelligence. Opposite offensive Did you present a defensive reaction yourself, sparking anger in the other? No one is better prepared to provide that training than the National Safety Council. When you feel as though you are becoming defensive, how would the best version of yourself handle the situation? If you know that to defend is to protect, you have an idea what defensive means. cautious. Ask yourself these questions, and find a way to find inner peace during criticism so you won't react defensively. If you receive criticism that is cruel or insulting, no one expects you to grow from itgo ahead and use your time and energy repairing those wounds. Boost your test score with programs developed by Vocabulary.coms experts. 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Or that has a difficult time listening to criticisms about themself people away, makes look! One to feel this way from time to time as this wo n't solve anything ) health to... A higher Sharpe ratio than the National Safety Council and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free in the. Know that to defend is to protect, you can tap into our naturally desire... Yourself can help us better understand and lessen your defensive behaviors clarify defensive tactics police in common able to offer and! To be less defensive times of defensivenesswhen your natural self-protection instincts set insee if you show. React defensively how would the best version of yourself handle the situation its dual.! Consistently push you to concede or compromise of its dual responsibilities its time for defensive tactics police step.
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