as in preventive
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening
the department in charge of taking preventative measures against international terrorism
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as in insurance
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Recent Examples of preventative
Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
The Colorado Department of Transportation is performing preventative maintenance on a bridge over I-25 between I-270 and Highway 36.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Some doctors also prescribe antivirals as a preventative for people who are at high risk for the virus if they are exposed.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preventative
Adjective
Having catalogued the Black Death’s horrifying effects, Ibn Khatima went on to outline a series of preventative measures and active treatments designed to combat this merciless scourge.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
The Colorado Department of Transportation is performing preventative maintenance on a bridge over I-25 between I-270 and Highway 36.
—Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 27 May 2026
Noun
Clayful partners with schools to provide preventative, pre-clinical mental health coaching to students.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Some doctors also prescribe antivirals as a preventative for people who are at high risk for the virus if they are exposed.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preventative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventative
Adjective
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State prosecutors accuse Kazanis, who practiced at the New You Dental clinic in Livonia, of repeatedly billing Medicaid for fillings that were not performed or were performed as less invasive procedures using preventive resin restorations.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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The 79-year-old president spent more than three hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as preventive medical and dental checkups.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Noun
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BriteCo Jewelry Insurance Learn More Additionally, renters and homeowners insurance from Lemonade, Amica, and Progressive offer an optional rider for jewelry.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
-
Dharod told the bankruptcy court that business had become particularly bad in the last two years, leaving him without sufficient access to cash to cover wages, rent, supplies and insurance.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Noun
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The doctor intentionally left the remainder of the tumor as a precaution against possible brain damage due to excessively invasive surgery.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
The program currently requires companies to submit a plan to the EPA outlining safety precautions, hazard assessments in the case of an accidental release and emergency response steps.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preventative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventative. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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