as in safeguard
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury
as parents of young children, they have taken the usual precaution of locking up their household cleansers
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Recent Examples of precaution
Oklahoma residents are urged to stay aware of their surroundings and take precautions.
—
Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
There will almost certainly be multiple factors that contributed to the crash because the aviation system has many layers of precautions in place to help reduce the risks of such an event happening.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
Take precautions when driving, hiking, and entering the ocean.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
National Transportation Safety Board investigators are looking at whether that lack of warning or any other problems with the airport's layers of safety precautions could have led to the crash.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precaution
Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 26 Mar. 2026
There will almost certainly be multiple factors that contributed to the crash because the aviation system has many layers of precautions in place to help reduce the risks of such an event happening.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
Take precautions when driving, hiking, and entering the ocean.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 24 Mar. 2026
National Transportation Safety Board investigators are looking at whether that lack of warning or any other problems with the airport's layers of safety precautions could have led to the crash.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precaution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precaution
Noun
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The report released in February by the two Texas agencies details the state’s ongoing safeguards to prevent, stop and prosecute fraud and what is being done to clamp down on it further.—
Jess Huff,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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The framework, which the administration wants Congress to codify, calls for online safeguards for children, less stringent permitting requirements to shield customers from spikes in utility bills, intellectual property rights protections and language to prevent censorship.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Padlocks, sickles and other objects made of iron, a metal said to possess anti-demonic powers, were stashed in the grave as preventives.—
Franz Lidz,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2023
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But although human vaccines function primarily as preventives, offering immunity to animals such as black-footed ferrets can be a conservation strategy of last resort.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2023
Noun
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These connections raise broader questions about how Epstein was able to maintain influence, credibility, and protection across borders for so long.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Reversing those protections now would not be neutral.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Others say drivers, regardless of age, need to exercise extra caution when navigating the busy corridors.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precaution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precaution. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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