protective
Keeping from harm
Protective describes the impulse or action of shielding something from harm.
A protective parent guards children from danger.
Protective gear prevents injury.
Protective tariffs shield domestic industries from foreign competition.
The word can carry positive connotations of care or negative ones of excessive control: He's protective of his sister versus She's too protective—the kids need some independence.
Protective head covering
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- seatbeltVehicle passenger restraint
- airbagVehicle collision cushion
harness · lifejacket · hardhat · earplugs · mask · shield · vest · padding
Handheld defensive armor
- screenDisplay or barrier
- coverProtect by overlaying
- shelterProtected place or structure
- enclosureConfined, bordered space
insulation · coating · casing · sheath · membrane · film · wrapper · cladding
Armor of linked rings
- breastplateMetal torso protection
- cuirassTorso-protecting plate armor
- helmetProtective head covering
- gauntletProtective armored handwear
greaves · vambrace · pauldron · gorget · hauberk · brigandine · sabaton · shield
Guardian of a place
- sentinelGuard who monitors
- wardenSupervisory custodian of place
- defenderOne who guards another
- watchdogGuard or monitor
guardian · keeper · steward · champion · advocate · escort · bodyguard · chaperone
Supportive care-giving
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
- attentivePaying close notice
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
tender · gentle · loving · compassionate · empathetic · affectionate · reassuring · soothing
Wary and restrained
- waryGuardedly alert
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- reactiveTending to respond
- shieldingProtecting from harm
deflecting · resistant · vigilant · alert · cautious · suspicious · distrustful · possessive
Of or like mothers
- paternalOf or from father
- primalFirst in origin
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
- innateExisting since birth
natural · visceral · automatic · instinctual · hardwired · biological · evolutionary · survival
helmet
Protective head covering
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
- seatbeltVehicle passenger restraint
airbag · harness · lifejacket · hardhat · earplugs · mask · shield · vest · padding · guard
shield
Handheld defensive armor
enclosure · insulation · coating · casing · sheath · membrane · film · wrapper · cladding · housing
chainmail
Armor of linked rings
- breastplateMetal torso protection
- cuirassTorso-protecting plate armor
- helmetProtective head covering
gauntlet · greaves · vambrace · pauldron · gorget · hauberk · brigandine · sabaton · shield · buckler
custodian
Guardian of a place
watchdog · guardian · keeper · steward · champion · advocate · escort · bodyguard · chaperone · overseer
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
- attentivePaying close notice
- watchfulCarefully attentive, observant
devoted · tender · gentle · loving · compassionate · empathetic · affectionate · reassuring · soothing · understanding
guarded
Wary and restrained
- waryGuardedly alert
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- reactiveTending to respond
shielding · deflecting · resistant · vigilant · alert · cautious · suspicious · distrustful · possessive · jealous
maternal
Of or like mothers
innate · natural · visceral · automatic · instinctual · hardwired · biological · evolutionary · survival · animalistic
- kind traitskind, caring, compassionate, nurturing, tender
- Parenting Traitspatience, love, kindness, empathy, nurturing
- product qualitiesdurable, lightweight, flexible, sturdy, portable
- family-friendlywholesome, kid-friendly, G-rated, PG, all ages
- beauty termsmatte, dewy, hydrating, moisturizing, smoothing
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
protectiveharmful
Causing damage or injury
injurious · hurtful · damaging · destructive · dangerous
protectiveaggressive
Hostile and confrontational
offensive · attacking · combative · belligerent · bellicose
protectiveneglectful
Failing to care properly
careless · reckless · negligent · uncaring · indifferent
- protection racketsExtortion through threatened violence
- identity protectionMeasures preventing personal fraud
- financial protectionSafeguard against monetary loss
- protective gearEquipment preventing bodily harm
- witness protectionHiding those who testified
- crash protectionMechanisms minimizing collision harm
protection, protecting, protections, overprotective, protectiveness, protectively, protectionism, protectionist, protectionists