Defensiveness (Noun)
Meaning
Excessive sensitivity to criticism; "his defensiveness was manifested in hurt silence"; "the fear of being sued for malpractice has magnified physicians' defensiveness".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- Her defensiveness was palpable as she snapped at anyone who dared to question her decisions.
- His raised voice and agitated tone were signs of the defensiveness that always kicked in whenever his work was criticized.
- The politician's defensiveness during the debate suggested that she was hiding something from the public.
- After being rejected from several jobs, he began to exhibit defensiveness in every conversation, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.
- The team's leader struggled to give constructive feedback to her teammates, who often responded with defensiveness rather than openness to improvement.