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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preventive
Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Two factors that drove Nevada’s ranking down to last place were the highest rates of youth depression and youth who didn’t receive preventive care in the past year, suggesting a significant lack of services for that group, Reinert said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 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
Knowing the results can help guide screening decisions, preventive measures, or treatment options.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Two factors that drove Nevada’s ranking down to last place were the highest rates of youth depression and youth who didn’t receive preventive care in the past year, suggesting a significant lack of services for that group, Reinert said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 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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Regular vaccinations could stay infections Experts across the board recommended keeping up with local flu vaccine schedules as a preventative measure.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
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To reduce the risk of disease, people should be aware of areas where ticks are located and use preventative measures when in grassy, brushy or wooded areas, according to the press release.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As a precaution, health and trade associations are urging consumers and bars to destroy or properly dispose of empty bottles to prevent counterfeiters from reusing them in the production of fake liquor.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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Students at Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City evacuated classrooms as the quake hit, and schools across the region were closed as a precaution.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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