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
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The first direct negotiations between the two states since 1993 are intended as preparatory meetings to shape future talks on a deal to normalize ties between the countries.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Because the images rotate at a screen-saver pace, my advice would be to focus on the preparatory drawings and cartoons, which are like sparks thrown off some great, beautiful machine.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The preliminary investigation also found that the most severe damage was concentrated at the front of the aircraft, with the cockpit and forward cabin sustaining significant structural destruction.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Reiner, 32, is awaiting his preliminary hearing on May 29 after being charged in connection with the murders of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and wife, Michele Singer Reiner.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The class would enable students to gain specialized skills needed for employment after graduation or for further post-secondary training, a memo from the district said, and would also provide students with opportunities to teach other students in the district’s introductory welding course.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Sign up today for How to Talk To People At Work and use the coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off the regular course price of $57 (plus tax).—
CNBC Make It staff,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preparative. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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