English dictionary



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English noun: defence mechanism

1. defence mechanism (process) (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires


Synonymsdefence, defence reaction, defense, defense mechanism, defense reaction


Broader (hypernym)process, psychoanalytic process, unconscious process


Narrower (hyponym)compensation, conversion, denial, displacement, idealisation, idealization, intellectualisation, intellectualization, isolation, projection, rationalisation, rationalization, reaction formation, regression, repression


Domain categorypsychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology









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