defensive

adjective

1 troops in defensive positions:

defending, guarding, safeguarding, protecting, protective, shielding, screening;

wary, watchful;

averting, withstanding, opposing.

▷antonyms attacking.

2 my innocent inquiry had provoked a defensive, almost hostile response:

self-justifying, oversensitive, thin-skinned, easily offended, prickly, paranoid, neurotic;

informal uptight, twitchy;

rare umbrageous.

▷antonyms confident.