feel defensive

Frequency: 7.015.2 per million words

To perceive criticism and react defensively.

defensiveVERB + defensive

Categories:

feel

Examples (10)

  • Whenever his decisions are questioned, he starts to feel defensive.
  • I felt a bit defensive when my boss criticized my report.
  • Why do you always feel so defensive when we talk about your spending habits?
  • If you keep making accusations, it's natural for her to feel defensive.
  • She felt slightly defensive about her unusual choice of clothing.
  • He tried not to feel defensive, but the constant criticism was getting to him.
  • They often feel defensive when outsiders comment on their team's performance.
  • Lately, I've started to feel defensive every time my parents give me advice.
  • It's hard not to feel defensive when your work is being unfairly judged.
  • You might feel defensive at first, but try to listen to the feedback with an open mind.