Psychological Defense Mechanisms

noun evasive or ambiguous language

• The lawyer's speech was full of ambages, making it difficult for the jury to understand.
• Stop beating around the bush and just tell me the truth without any ambages.
• I can't stand all the ambages in his story, just get to the point!
• Her ambages were like a maze, leading me in circles without a clear answer.

verb to avoid talking about something directly or to talk about something without making much progress

• During the meeting, the speaker did not beat about the bush and went straight to the main points.
• Stop beating about the bush and just tell me what you want.
• Quit beating around the bush and get to the point.
• She beat about the topic for hours without really addressing the issue at hand.

verb to remove or erase completely

adverb completely or thoroughly

• The artist used white paint to blot out the mistake on the canvas.
• I accidentally spilled coffee on my notebook and tried to blot out the stain with a tissue.
• I used some bleach to blot out the graffiti on the wall.
• She tried to blot out the memories of her ex-boyfriend by staying busy with work.

adjective Cynical is an adjective that describes a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.

• The professor had a cynical view of human nature, believing people were inherently selfish.
• She always has a cynical attitude towards new ideas, thinking they will never work.
• I can't stand his cynical remarks about everything, it's so annoying.
• His cynical heart had been hardened by years of disappointment and betrayal.

adjective used to describe someone or something that is intended to defend against attack or criticism

• The defensive strategy implemented by the team proved to be effective in preventing the opponent from scoring.
• She always gets defensive whenever someone criticizes her work.
• Why are you being so defensive about it? Chill out.
• His defensive walls were up, making it hard for anyone to get through to him emotionally.

verb to refuse to admit the truth or existence of something

• The defendant chose to deny all allegations brought against him in court.
• She denied eating the last piece of cake, but we all saw her do it.
• He straight up denied knowing anything about the party, even though he was the one who organized it.
• She couldn't deny the feelings of nostalgia that washed over her as she walked through her childhood neighborhood.

verb to express contempt for; ridicule

• The professor would often deride students who did not meet his high academic standards.
• She couldn't help but deride her friend's fashion choices behind her back.
• Don't listen to him, he's just deriding you because he's jealous.
• The media's constant derision of the politician eventually led to his downfall.

noun a process of separating or disconnecting from someone or something

• Disassociation is a psychological defense mechanism in which certain thoughts, emotions, or memories are separated from the individual's conscious awareness.
• Sometimes disassociation can occur when a person feels overwhelmed and disconnected from reality.
• I totally disassociated during that boring lecture.
• The disassociation between the two political parties is becoming more evident as tensions rise.

verb To refuse to acknowledge or accept as one's own; to reject or renounce any connection with.

• The family disowned their son after he was involved in a scandal.
• She disowned her best friend for betraying her trust.
• He got disowned by his crew for snitching to the cops.
• The author felt disowned by the literary community after receiving harsh criticism.

verb to refuse to acknowledge or accept as one's own; to deny any connection with

• The father decided to disown his son after he was caught stealing from the family business.
• I can't believe she disowned her own sister just because of a silly argument.
• If you keep acting like that, your friends are going to disown you.
• The artist decided to disown his earlier works and start fresh with a new style.

verb to move or force out of a usual or proper place or position

• The construction of the new highway will displace several families from their homes.
• The new mall is going to displace a lot of small businesses in the area.
• The new apartment complex is going to kick out a bunch of people and displace them.
• Her new role in the company will displace her from her comfort zone and challenge her skills.

noun the amount by which something is moved from its usual position or place

• The displacement of the population due to the natural disaster was a major concern for the government.
• The displacement of families from their homes was really sad to see.
• The displacement of people after the fire was a real bummer.
• The displacement of power within the organization caused a lot of tension.

noun the act of deceiving or concealing one's true feelings or motives

adjective dissimulative (relating to or characterized by dissimulation)

• The politician's dissimulation was evident when he claimed to support the bill, but voted against it.
• She saw through his dissimulation and knew he was lying about his whereabouts.
• His dissimulation was so obvious, it was like he was trying to pull a fast one on us.
• The mask of dissimulation he wore to hide his true feelings eventually cracked, revealing his inner turmoil.

noun a person who has dissociated from a particular group or organization

verb to disconnect or separate from something or someone

• It is important to dissociate personal beliefs from professional decisions.
• I need to dissociate myself from that drama.
• I'm going to dissociate from that toxic friend group.
• Sometimes it feels like I need to dissociate from reality for a while.

verb to twist or change something out of its usual, natural, or original shape or condition

• The artist used a special technique to distort the image in his painting.
• Don't distort the facts just to win an argument.
• Stop trying to twist the truth and distort what really happened.
• Her anger seemed to distort her perception of reality.

noun a physical act of moving something away

verb to cause something or someone to go away by driving

• The car dealership offered a discount to drive away more customers.
• Let's hop in the car and drive away for a spontaneous road trip!
• I heard he tried to drive away from the party without saying goodbye.
• Her harsh words seemed to drive away any chance of reconciliation.

noun the act of avoiding something or escaping from something through deceit or cleverness

• The suspect was charged with tax evasion for failing to report income.
• He's always finding ways to dodge taxes, it's like he's a pro at evasion.
• She's a master at dodging responsibilities, always finding a way to pull off an evasion.
• His constant evasion of the truth eventually caught up with him.

adjective characterized by evasion or avoidance; deliberately vague or ambiguous

• The witness was being evasive during cross-examination.
• Stop being so evasive and just tell me the truth!
• She's always so evasive, it's annoying.
• His evasive maneuvers helped him avoid the oncoming traffic.

adjective silly and pointless, showing a lack of intelligence

• The politician's fatuous remarks during the debate were met with criticism from the audience.
• I can't believe she fell for his fatuous excuses.
• That guy is so fatuous, he never knows what he's talking about.
• Her dreams of becoming a famous actress were nothing but fatuous fantasies.

verb exhibiting excessive flattery or affection; to show exaggerated attention or affection towards someone in order to gain favor or approval

• The journalist was accused of fawning over the politician in her latest article.
• I can't stand how she's always fawning over him whenever he's around.
• She's always fawning over him like a lovesick puppy.
• The artist's latest work had critics fawning over its brilliance.

adjective a descriptive word that modifies a noun to indicate a characteristic or quality, in this case, 'flinthearted' describes someone who is easily scared or lacks courage

• He was known for his flinthearted approach to negotiations, never showing any sign of weakness.
• Don't be so flinthearted, just give it a try and see what happens.
• She's too flinthearted to handle any criticism, always taking things personally.
• His flinthearted demeanor made it difficult for others to get close to him emotionally.

noun the act of regarding or representing something as perfect or better than in reality

• The idealization of certain historical figures can lead to a distorted view of their actions and impact.
• Stop with the idealization of that celebrity, they're just a regular person like everyone else.
• Don't fall for the idealization of that influencer, they're just trying to make themselves look good.
• The idealization of love in movies often sets unrealistic expectations for relationships in real life.

verb to regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality

• It is not healthy to constantly idealize someone without recognizing their flaws.
• Stop idealizing that celebrity, they're just a regular person like everyone else.
• Don't be so quick to idealize your crush, they might not be as perfect as you think.
• In literature, authors often idealize certain characters to represent virtues or ideals.

verb to refuse to take notice of or acknowledge; disregard intentionally

• It is important not to ignore any warning signs of potential safety hazards in the workplace.
• I know you're busy, but please don't ignore my messages.
• Dude, don't ignore me when I'm trying to talk to you.
• Sometimes we choose to ignore the truth because it is too painful to accept.

noun a person's true identity that is concealed or hidden

adverb in a disguised or concealed state

• The celebrity traveled incognito to avoid being recognized by fans.
• I'm going to go incognito at the party so I can observe everyone without them knowing.
• Let's go incognito and sneak into the concert without paying.
• She wore sunglasses and a hat, going incognito as she tried to hide her emotions from others.

adjective showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

• The student's insolent behavior towards the teacher was unacceptable.
• She couldn't stand his insolent attitude any longer.
• Stop being so insolent, it's really annoying.
• The storm raged on, its winds howling in an insolent manner.

noun a person who tells or plays jokes; a jest or prankster

• The joker in the deck of cards is often used as a wild card.
• He's always the joker of the group, making everyone laugh.
• That guy is a real joker, always cracking jokes.
• Life can sometimes feel like a game of cards with the joker constantly changing the rules.

noun A person who leads a life of dreamy, indolent ease, indifferent to the busy world; a person who is content with a life of luxury and pleasure.

• The lotus eater in the ancient Greek myth was a character who indulged in a life of leisure and pleasure.
• My friend is such a lotus eater, always lounging around and never wanting to do anything productive.
• Don't be a lotus eater and waste your whole day on the couch.
• Being a lotus eater can be tempting, but it's important to stay motivated and work towards your goals.

noun a fictional place where Peter Pan and other characters from J.M. Barrie's works reside

• Many people believe that Never-Never land is just a fictional place created by J.M. Barrie in his famous novel.
• I wish I could escape to Never-Never land and leave all my problems behind.
• Let's take a trip to Never-Never land and forget about everything for a while.
• His mind often wandered to a Never-Never land where everything was perfect and nothing could go wrong.

noun a lack of recognition or acknowledgment

• The nonrecognition of their achievements was a constant source of frustration for the team.
• They were upset about the nonrecognition of all the hard work they put in.
• It sucks that their efforts go unnoticed, total nonrecognition.
• The shadow of nonrecognition loomed over their success, casting a dark cloud over their accomplishments.

noun the state of being forgotten or disregarded

• The ancient civilization faded into oblivion over time.
• I completely forgot about that party, it's in oblivion now.
• Once the news cycle moves on, scandals are often pushed into oblivion.
• His mind wandered into the depths of oblivion as he lost himself in thought.

noun a process of making up for a deficiency in one aspect of a person's life by emphasizing or exaggerating a feature in another aspect

• The employee's overcompensation for his mistake led to further issues within the project.
• She always goes overboard with her overcompensation when trying to make up for something.
• He's such a try-hard, always doing way too much overcompensation to impress others.
• The politician's promises were seen as overcompensation for their lack of actual achievements.

verb to pretend to be ignorant or unaware of something

adjective acting in a way that makes one appear unintelligent or unaware

• It is not ethical to play dumb in a professional setting.
• I saw you play dumb when the teacher asked about the missing homework.
• Don't play dumb with me, I know you were involved in the prank.
• She tried to play dumb, but we all knew she was the mastermind behind the scheme.

noun a novel by Eleanor H. Porter about a young girl with a relentlessly positive outlook on life

• Despite facing many challenges, she maintained a Pollyanna attitude towards life.
• She's such a Pollyanna, always seeing the bright side of things.
• Don't be such a Pollyanna, life isn't always rainbows and butterflies.
• His Pollyanna outlook on life often led him to overlook the harsh realities.

noun the quality of having or showing a claim to something

• His pretension to be an expert in the field was quickly debunked by his lack of knowledge.
• She always puts on airs of pretension when she's around new people.
• Stop fronting with all that pretension, we know you're not as cool as you act.
• The facade of pretension she wore shielded her true emotions from the world.

noun a plan or proposal for accomplishing something

verb to jut out or extend beyond something else

adjective extending outward; protruding

• The architect is currently projecting the cost estimates for the new building project.
• I heard Sarah is projecting the budget for the upcoming event.
• I can't believe how accurate he is at projecting sales numbers.
• Her confidence is projecting through her body language during the presentation.

noun a person who is overly cautious or timid in their actions

verb to walk or move cautiously or timidly

• It is unprofessional to pussyfoot around important issues in the workplace.
• Stop pussyfooting and just tell me what you really think.
• Quit pussyfooting and make a decision already.
• She always pussyfoots around the truth, never being completely honest.

noun the action of attempting to explain or justify behavior or an attitude with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The company's rationalization of their decision to downsize was based on financial data.
• She tried to come up with some rationalization for why she was late, but we knew she just overslept.
• His rationalization for skipping class was that he just didn't feel like going.
• The rationalization of his actions was like building a house of cards, fragile and easily toppled.

verb to attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate

• It is important to rationalize your expenses in order to stay within budget.
• I need to rationalize why I spent so much money on clothes last month.
• I had to come up with a way to rationalize buying that new video game.
• She tried to rationalize her decision to quit her job by focusing on the potential for personal growth.

noun a means of resisting

• The material used in the construction of the bridge has high resistance to corrosion.
• She put up a good resistance in the tennis match, but ultimately lost.
• Don't give in to peer pressure, show some resistance.
• His resistance to change is hindering the progress of the project.

noun a place or a facility where people go for relaxation or recreation

verb to turn to or make use of a strategy or course of action, especially as a last resort

• In times of crisis, it is important for governments to exhaust all options before resorting to extreme measures.
• I had to resort to asking my parents for money when I couldn't find a job.
• When my car broke down, I had to resort to bumming a ride from my friend.
• Instead of resorting to violence, try to find a peaceful solution to your problems.

verb to withdraw or move away from a place or situation

• The soldiers were retreating from the battlefield after suffering heavy casualties.
• The team decided to retreat when things started to go south.
• We booked it out of there once we saw the cops retreating.
• Her confidence was retreating as the interview went on.

noun a feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for someone or something

verb to feel or express scorn towards someone or something

• She could not hide her scorn for his lack of manners at the dinner party.
• He rolled his eyes in scorn when she suggested watching a romantic comedy.
• The popular kids at school always looked at me with scorn because I was different.
• The old building stood in silent scorn as the modern skyscrapers rose around it.

adjective showing contempt or disdain; looking down on someone or something with scorn

• She shot him a scornful look as he tried to defend his actions.
• Her scornful attitude towards him was evident to everyone in the room.
• I can't stand her scornful comments about my outfit.
• The old building stood there, its windows broken and walls covered in a layer of scornful graffiti.

adjective having or showing a tendency to make oneself modestly or shyly inconspicuous

• She was known for her self-effacing demeanor during important meetings.
• He always downplays his achievements, he's so self-effacing.
• I love how she's always so chill and self-effacing about everything.
• His self-effacing nature was like a cloak that shielded his true feelings.

verb to move stealthily or in a sneaky manner

• The detective observed the suspect skulking in the alleyway.
• I saw that shady guy skulking around the corner.
• Why are you skulking around like a creep?
• His guilt was like a shadow, always skulking behind him.

noun a mass of dense smoke produced to conceal an area, vessel, or troops from the enemy

• The company used a smoke screen to hide their true financial situation from investors.
• Don't believe everything he says, it's just a smoke screen to distract you.
• She's always putting up a smoke screen to avoid talking about her problems.
• His excuses were just a smoke screen for his lack of effort.

noun snobbery

• The professor's snobbery towards students who didn't attend prestigious universities was evident in his condescending tone.
• She's always showing off her designer clothes, it's just pure snobbery.
• Don't be such a snob, just because you have expensive taste doesn't mean others have to as well.
• The snobbery of the elite was like a thick fog, separating them from the rest of society.

noun a sudden or forceful movement backwards

verb to push or force something backwards

• The knight thrust back the enemy with a powerful blow.
• She quickly thrust back the intruder with a broom.
• He just thrust back at the bully and walked away.
• Despite facing many challenges, she always manages to thrust back and keep moving forward.

adjective describing a situation where something is not protected or guarded

• The castle's walls were left undefended during the siege.
• The house was left wide open and undefended while the owners were away.
• Leaving your phone unlocked and undefended is just asking for trouble.
• Her heart felt undefended after the breakup, vulnerable to further hurt.

noun something that is too shocking or embarrassing to be mentioned

adjective referring to something that is too shocking or embarrassing to be mentioned

• The topic of politics was deemed unmentionable at the formal dinner party.
• I can't believe she wore those unmentionable shoes to the event.
• I heard he did something unmentionable at the party last night.
• The scandal was the unmentionable elephant in the room during the meeting.

adjective describing someone who does not think deeply or consider their actions carefully

• His unreflecting actions led to serious consequences.
• She made an unreflecting decision without thinking it through.
• Don't be so unreflecting, take a moment to consider your choices.
• His unreflecting behavior was like a bull in a china shop, causing chaos wherever he went.

noun a verbal retraction or withdrawal of a previous statement or assertion

• The act of unsaying something can sometimes be more damaging than saying it in the first place.
• I wish I could just unsay everything I said last night when I was drunk.
• I totally regret saying that, I wish I could just unsay it.
• Once words are spoken, it's impossible to unsay them and take them back.

noun a feeling of excessive pride or self-satisfaction

• His vainglory led to his downfall as he underestimated his opponents.
• She's always showing off, full of vainglory.
• Don't be so full of yourself, it's just vainglory.
• The vainglory of the city's skyline reflected the ambition of its people.

noun the act of avoiding or shunning something

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The contract included a clause on voidance in case of breach of agreement.
• Avoiding voidance of the warranty is crucial for keeping your electronics covered.
• Don't mess up or you'll be facing voidance of your membership.
• Her actions led to a voidance of trust between them.

noun a vertical structure typically dividing or enclosing an area

verb to enclose or surround with a wall

• The architect decided to include a glass wall in the design to allow natural light to flow into the space.
• I'm thinking about putting up a new photo wall in my bedroom.
• Let's paint a mural on that blank wall in the alley.
• She built an emotional wall in order to protect herself from getting hurt.

adjective having characteristics resembling or suggestive of a wolf

• The wolfish grin on his face made me uneasy during the negotiation.
• She shot me a wolfish look when I mentioned her crush.
• He always gives off a wolfish vibe when he's flirting with someone.
• The city at night took on a wolfish quality, with shadows lurking around every corner.

noun a slang term for a small amount or portion of something

• The suspect was arrested for attempting to pull a jippo on the store owner.
• I can't believe he tried to jippo his way out of paying for the meal.
• She's always trying to jippo her way into getting free stuff.
• His promises were nothing but a jippo, leading to disappointment for all involved.

noun a Latin phrase meaning 'to the man', used to describe an argument that attacks a person's character rather than addressing the issue at hand

• The argument presented was based on ad hominem attacks rather than logical reasoning.
• She always resorts to ad hom attacks when she's losing an argument.
• He's just ad hom-ing because he can't handle being wrong.
• Using ad hominem in a debate is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

noun the action or practice of presenting oneself in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others

verb to behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others

• The politician's posturing on the issue did not align with his previous statements.
• Stop posturing and just tell me what you really think.
• She's always posturing to impress others.
• The company's posturing in the market was seen as a sign of strength.

noun a derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one

• The use of dysphemism can be seen as a form of linguistic disrespect.
• Using dysphemism to describe someone is just plain rude.
• Don't throw around dysphemisms like that, it's not cool.
• His words were like dysphemisms, cutting through the room with their harshness.

noun a game or strategy in which one person pretends to be hurt or tired in order to deceive an opponent

verb to engage in a deceptive strategy, especially in a competitive situation

• The boxer used the strategy to play rope-a-dope and tire out his opponent.
• I saw the boxer trying to play rope-a-dope in the ring last night.
• Let's see if he can play rope-a-dope and outsmart his opponent.
• She decided to play rope-a-dope and let her opponent wear themselves out before making her move.

verb to speak or write in a roundabout way; to use many words when fewer would do; to avoid being direct or concise

• The politician tends to circumlocute his answers in order to avoid directly addressing the question.
• Just get to the point and stop circumlocuting!
• He's always beating around the bush and circumlocuting.
• Her words circled around the truth, like a bird circling its prey, never quite landing on it.