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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preventive
Angela Hart, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
As women’s health has gone underfunded and underdiagnosed for millennia, many preventive medicine advocates and doctors further champion personal testing as a way for women to feel more in control of their health.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 4 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
Health policy researchers and economists say providing Medicaid coverage to immigrants for preventive services and treatment of chronic health conditions staves off more costly care for patients down the road.
—Angela Hart, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
As women’s health has gone underfunded and underdiagnosed for millennia, many preventive medicine advocates and doctors further champion personal testing as a way for women to feel more in control of their health.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 4 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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UnitedHealthcare and Aetna say most of their plans cover preventative care, like vaccines, without paying out of pocket.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
8 Sep. 2025
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Lapado has a history of controversial and sometimes misinformed views, especially around COVID-19 vaccines and preventative policies.—
Simon Williams,
Time,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Simpson called his family to drive him to the hospital as a precaution.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Other than making sure police are contacted, workers are instructed to take safety precautions and make sure that families understand the risk involved with the highly potent illicit drug.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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