as in preventative
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening
if you start taking this preventive medicine now, you may not get sick after all
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in precaution
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury
if people took the simple preventive of frequently washing their hands, the spread of germs could be greatly reduced
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Recent Examples of preventive
Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
By emphasizing preventive care and helping older people stay home longer, proponents contend that PACE can provide better health outcomes for less money than institutional care.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 July 2022
When given as a preventive, it is meant as a two-dose vaccine given four weeks apart, which research suggests can reduce the risk of infection by about 85%.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 14 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for preventive
Adjective
Today, many migraine sufferers take upward of four medications to try and stay ahead of the pain—and that doesn’t include home remedies or preventive superstitions.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
By emphasizing preventive care and helping older people stay home longer, proponents contend that PACE can provide better health outcomes for less money than institutional care.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
And yet little is being done in response to the danger, let alone as a preventive to keep the situation from going further off the rails.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 July 2022
When given as a preventive, it is meant as a two-dose vaccine given four weeks apart, which research suggests can reduce the risk of infection by about 85%.
—Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 14 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for preventive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventive
precaution
Noun
-
Be mindful outdoors: Take extra precautions when working or spending time outside. Find the right time: Consider rescheduling strenuous activities to early morning or evening if possible. Familiarize yourself with warning signs: Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Those spending time outdoors should take precautions such as wearing loose clothes and drink a lot of water.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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