defensiveness
noun[U]
uk/dɪˈfen.sɪv.nəs/us/dɪˈfen.sɪv.nəs/speechorbehaviourin which someone is veryeagertoavoidbeingcriticized:
戒备心理；自我防卫"I amassertive," she says, with only atraceof defensiveness.“我很自信，”她说，有点替自己辩护的意思。
Hefeltasurgeof defensiveness, a need todenyorexplain.他忽然很想替自己辩解，觉得需要否认或者解释一下。
- Helostsome of his defensiveness and Emmabegantolooklessworried.
- The president's defensivenessstemsfrom thefactthat theconcernaboutcrimeisviewedas anattackon thelegitimacyof thisgovernment.
- Thesefailureshave beencompoundedbyofficialdefensiveness anddenial.
Answering & responding
- acknowledgment
- affirmative
- affirmatively
- answer
- answer (someone) back
- clap
- clap back
- clapback
- counter
- counterblast
- cricketsidiom
- defensively
- field
- give
- knob
- non-responsive
- respondent
- RSVP
- thank you
- whataboutism
See
defensive