as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
preparative warning that the injection was going to cause a modest amount of pain
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Recent Examples of preparative
Just weeks after announcing a plan (or at least the preparative study of a plan) to reconstruct Park Avenue in its premodern, superior form, the city has just revealed a major makeover for Fifth.
—
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024
One such approach involves utilizing advanced chromatography techniques like flash chromatography or preparative HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2023
Using photography as a preparative tool as well as an art form later in life reveals Degas to have been a more progressive artist that was willing to experiment.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2019
Gordon explains that the body has quite a bit of pre-labor preparative work to do.
—Tanya Ward Goodman, Orange County Register, 5 June 2017
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024
One such approach involves utilizing advanced chromatography techniques like flash chromatography or preparative HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2023
Using photography as a preparative tool as well as an art form later in life reveals Degas to have been a more progressive artist that was willing to experiment.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2019
Gordon explains that the body has quite a bit of pre-labor preparative work to do.
—Tanya Ward Goodman, Orange County Register, 5 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preparative
Adjective
-
The team will first play a preparatory series in Sri Lanka which begins in two weeks’ time.—
Dominic Fifield,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
They were discovered during preparatory work for road construction.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Joseph took time during the bye week for preliminary interviews for head coaching jobs with the Cardinals, Ravens, Raiders, Giants and Titans.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The person cautioned the information was still preliminary, and the investigation was in its early stages.—
Steve Karnowski,
Twin Cities,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And many banks offer zero-percent APR cards, which typically provide cards with no interest for an introductory period of, say, 12 to 15 months.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Or head to the Bergman Bowl for introductory bowl skiing, which boasts one green run above the treeline (for more experienced beginners).—
Alison Fox,
Outside,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preparative. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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