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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of preventive
Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
Researchers hope the findings will enable better predictive and preventive measures such as ramping up dietary supplements and other dietary interventions.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
In the end, however, experts say there is only one true preventive — or cure — for a hangover: Don’t drink.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 30 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for preventive
Adjective
Before the arrival in 2023 of Pfizer’s maternal vaccine and a preventive monoclonal antibody drug called nirsevimab, developed by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, RSV brought an annual scourge upon children’s hospitals.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
Researchers hope the findings will enable better predictive and preventive measures such as ramping up dietary supplements and other dietary interventions.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
Finding and treating the stomach infection Helicobacter pylori can also be considered as a preventive for people who are about to start a course on NSAIDs.
—Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023
In the end, however, experts say there is only one true preventive — or cure — for a hangover: Don’t drink.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 30 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for preventive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventive
Adjective
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Then, a mounting body of scientific evidence suggested that occasional burning is key to maintaining a healthy ecosystem in the park, leading park officials to implement a system of preventative burning.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Science and innovation has shifted the priority for today’s consumers and industry goals from immediate appearance and reactive care to advanced treatments, preventative care, and long term payoff.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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No one else was injured, and the actor was cleared shortly after receiving treatment, but in the wake of Holland's concussion, the movie has halted production as a precaution.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
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Always read directions and take precautions when using these herbicides.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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