as in protective
intended to resist or prevent attack or aggression
a self-protective gesture to ward off the blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-protective
He’s worked hard to make his way in this world, and part of his cocksure attitude is self-protective.
—
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025
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
Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-protective
defensive
Adjective
-
As for his defensive game, neither of the past two Padres managers, one of them former catcher Bob Melvin, seemed wild about it.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 July 2025
-
His production came despite often dealing with defensive menace Carter Bryant, who San Antonio selected 14th overall this year.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-protective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-protective. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share