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
Christina Hanson, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Recent research found that avoidant crafting is often preventive—aimed at preserving resources and preventing burnout—while escape behaviors are primarily defensive and withdrawal-oriented.
—Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 10 June 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
But as of this year, those federal reimbursements have ended — and simple, preventive measures like updating EBT cards with chip technology to prevent fraud and theft still haven’t been implemented.
—Christina Hanson, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025
Recent research found that avoidant crafting is often preventive—aimed at preserving resources and preventing burnout—while escape behaviors are primarily defensive and withdrawal-oriented.
—Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 10 June 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
-
To prevent gulls from nesting on rooftops, it is recommended to take precautions during the winter, before the birds begin to settle, and to steer clear from chicks and nests.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
-
Always follow proper procedures and ensure fire safety precautions are in place to prevent accidents.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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