Collocations for defensive - adj.

be

purely
These are purely defensive measures.

essentially, largely
a largely defensive campaign

be, feel, look, seem, sound | become, get
Whenever anyone mention women''s rights, he gets rather defensive.

extremely, fiercely, very
He did not once glance at his listeners and seemed fiercely defensive.

a little, rather, slightly, somewhat | oddly
Her manner was oddly defensive, as he hadn''t intended any criticism at all.

about
He is extremely defensive about his work.