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Submissive vs Defensive - What's the difference?

submissive | defensive |

As nouns the difference between submissive and defensive

is that submissive is one who submits while defensive is a means, attitude or position of defense.

As adjectives the difference between submissive and defensive

is that submissive is meekly obedient or passive while defensive is intended for defence; protective.

submissive

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • one who submits

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Meekly obedient or passive.
  • * 1756 , Edmund Burke, The Works of the Right Honorable Edmund Burke , G. Bell & sons, page 314:
    • The powerful managers for government were not sufficiently submissive to the pleasure of the possessors of immediate and personal favour, sometimes from a confidence in their own strength natural and acquired; sometimes from a fear of offending their friends, and weakening that lead in the country, which gave them a consideration independent of the court.
  • * 1913 , Edward Lee Thorndike, Educational Psychology , Teachers college, Columbia university, page 92:
    • If the human being who answers these tendencies assumes a submissive behavior, in essence a lowering of head and shoulders, wavering glance, absence of all preparations for attack, general weakening of muscle tonus, and hesitancy in movement, the movements of attempt at mastery become modified into attempts at the more obvious swagger, strut and glare of triumph.
  • * 2007 , Brian Watermeyer, Disability and Social Change: A South African Agenda , HSRC Press, page 269:
    • Once oppression has been internalised, little force is needed to keep us submissive .

    Derived terms

    * submissively (adverb) * submissiveness (noun)

    Synonyms

    * docile * meek * slavish * timid * obedient

    Antonyms

    * dominant, domineering (ruling ) * defiant, rebellious (ignoring )

    defensive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Intended for defence; protective.
    • a defensive perimeter
  • Intended to deter attack.
    • a defensive missile system
  • Performed so as to minimise risk.
    • defensive driving
  • Displaying an inordinate sensitivity to criticism.
  • (cricket) Of a bowling or fielding tactic designed to prevent the other side from scoring runs; of a batting tactic designed to prevent being out.
  • (sports) Pertaining to defense, as opposed to attack.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 2 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Bulgaria 0-3 England , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.}}
  • In a state or posture of defense.
    • (Milton)

    Antonyms

    * offensive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A means, attitude or position of defense.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2007, date=May 26, author=Julia Werdigier, title=Consolidating the Banks of Europe, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=Such kinds of defensives are really rather protecting the local companies than the consumers. }}

    Related terms

    * on the defensive ----