| English Dictionary |
DEFENSIVENESS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does defensiveness mean?
• DEFENSIVENESS (noun)
The noun DEFENSIVENESS has 1 sense:
1. excessive sensitivity to criticism
Familiarity information: DEFENSIVENESS used as a noun is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Excessive sensitivity to criticism
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Context example:
the fear of being sued for malpractice has magnified physicians' defensiveness
Hypernyms ("defensiveness" is a kind of...):
sensitiveness; sensitivity (the ability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "defensiveness"):
bunker mentality (defensiveness resulting from repeated attacks)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Once bitten, twice shy." (English proverb)
"The rainbow is a sign from Him who is in all things." (Native American proverb, Hopi)
"Your tongue is your horseĀ if you take care of it, it takes care of you; if you betray it, betrays it will." (Arabic proverb)
"Lovers and lords want only to be alone together." (Corsican proverb)
"The rainbow is a sign from Him who is in all things." (Native American proverb, Hopi)
"Your tongue is your horseĀ if you take care of it, it takes care of you; if you betray it, betrays it will." (Arabic proverb)
"Lovers and lords want only to be alone together." (Corsican proverb)