defensive stance

collocation in English

meaningsofdefensiveandstance

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withstance.
defensive
adjective
uk
/dɪˈfen.sɪv/us
/dɪˈfen.sɪv/
used to protect someone or something ...
See more atdefensive
stance
noun[C]
uk
/stɑːns/us
/stæns/
a way of thinking about something, especially expressed in a publicly ...
See more atstance

(Definition ofdefensiveandstancefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofdefensive stance

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
But this purelydefensivestancedoes not help us when we try to think realistically about religion on a global scale.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Moschis et al. (1997), however, suggest that thisdefensivestanceis symptomatic of an ignorance of the over-50s market.
From theCambridge English Corpus
I would, however, urge the meat industry not to adopt adefensivestancein this dossier, but to be proactive instead.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
These are, after all, specific questions, and there is no need to adopt adefensivestance.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
The wording is subtly different and leaves an impression of rather adefensivestancebeing adopted.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Here again we seem to take a largelydefensivestance.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is only such a removal, and it is only with such adefensivestance, that the political negotiations which can undermine political tensions and political conflict become possible.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
For the forthcoming budgets, we need to adopt a constructive approach, which looks to the future, and no longer adefensivestance, aimed at containing national self-interest.
FromEuroparl Parallel Corpus - English
Meade, however, cautiously assumed adefensivestanceand rushed reinforcements to his flank, thinning his own lines.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
It was initially intended to maintain adefensivestance.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Kidstuff approaches the lady who is in adefensivestance.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Converting adefensivestanceinto an attack on an unaware opponent can quickly turn the tide of the game.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Only few voices supported adefensivestance, but they were not heard.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
At 0:15, a young man spreads his arms in adefensivestance.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
As a result, they were forced to adopt adefensivestancethroughout the war.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Lyrically, the song describes a domestic dispute in which its narrator assumes adefensivestanceagainst a manipulative ex-lover.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Beginning in the early 1970s the church moved from adefensivestanceto a more aggressive stance in speaking in defence of human rights.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofdefensive
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See other collocations withstance