defensive

Strongly feeling or showing that you are being criticized.

Very strongly feeling or showing that you are being criticized.

Slightly feeling or showing that you are being criticized.

To emphasize that an action is only for defense and not for attack.

Feeling or showing to a small degree that you are being criticized.

To be more defensive than is necessary or appropriate.

Used to describe something that is mostly, but not entirely, defensive.

Used to describe something that is defensive in its basic nature.

Quite or moderately feeling or showing that you are being criticized.

To be defensive in an angry or aggressive way.

To show that you feel someone is criticizing you.

Used to describe a state of protection against attack.

A common, informal way to say 'become defensive'.

To give the impression of being defensive.

To sound as if you feel criticized when you speak.

To appear defensive through one's expression or body language.

To perceive criticism and react defensively.

To start being defensive in reaction to something.

To gradually become more defensive over time.

Used to specify the topic or subject that someone is being defensive over.