View synonyms for protective

protective

[ pruh-tek-tiv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

having the quality or function of protecting: protecting:
a protective covering.
tending to protect.
Economics. of, relating to, or designed to favor protectionism:
protective tariffs.
defensive ( def 4 ).

protective

/ prəˈtɛktɪv /

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First recorded in 1655–65; protect + -ive

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By drawing boundaries against wrongful conduct, law provides a protective zone of freedom within those boundaries.

For instance, how do you balance honesty with any protective urge?

And not that anyone would know I have a self-protective urge, but I do have one.

Former Texas governor Ann Richards was a big fan of the Texas Rangers, a contingent of which was her protective detail.

Overnight people shed their fears, their protective camouflage and their restraints.

The ideas are simpler, the numina seem less cold and more protective, the worshippers more sensible of divine aid.

He put it in his garden, arranged a small protective wire cylinder around it, and sprinkled it with water.

But even an age of war and pestilence could be observed without torment from behind the protective shields of the Time Machine.

But I would tolerate, welcome, indeed, plead for a stiff protective duty upon foreign goods.

For this reason they have built up a protective instinct against fire.

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