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
ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring, at least for now, that some 150 million people will continue getting many free, preventive services under the act.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 27 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
The ruling means that tens of millions of Americans can continue getting a variety of preventive services for free under their plans.
—ArsTechnica, 27 June 2025
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, ensuring, at least for now, that some 150 million people will continue getting many free, preventive services under the act.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 27 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
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Forecasters predict the worst of a record-setting heat wave may soon be over — but millions still need to take precautions to stay safe from dangerous heat.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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Castor oil packs are generally safe for most people when used correctly, but there are a few precautions to keep in mind:13141516 Skin reactions: Castor oil may cause itching, redness, or rashes in people with sensitive skin or allergies.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preventive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preventive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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