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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preventive
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
For preventive care and treatment for run-of-the-mill illnesses on the cheap, Ryan Health Centers are government-funded and offer services at little or no cost to patients, regardless of their insurance status.
—The Editors, Curbed, 9 May 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
Children with Medicaid are also more likely than those who are uninsured to receive preventive care that keeps them healthy, including routine checkups.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
For preventive care and treatment for run-of-the-mill illnesses on the cheap, Ryan Health Centers are government-funded and offer services at little or no cost to patients, regardless of their insurance status.
—The Editors, Curbed, 9 May 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
-
Stay cool, drink plenty of fluids, check on relatives and neighbors, and take precautions when working or spending time outside.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
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That would explain the complete and utter disregard for the most basic standards, like taking precautions before construction and providing clean water and safe environments.—
Jay Reddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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