Synonyms of preventive

preventive 1 of 2

adjective

pri-ˈven-tiv 

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

• preventative
• prophylactic
• precautionary
• deterring
• blocking
• deterrent
• neutralizing
• frustrating
• nullifying
• negating
• baffling
• retardant
• hampering
• thwarting
• hindering
• impeding
• foiling
• balking
• stalling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisting
• aiding
• facilitating
• smoothing
• promoting
• nurturing
• encouraging
• abetting
• fostering
• forwarding
• easing
• furthering

preventive

2 of 2

noun

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

• precaution
• safeguard
• protection
• palladium
• fail-safe
• caution
• shield
• wall
• screen
• armor
• ward
• cover
• guard

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of preventive

Adjective

Meta and Signal looked into the issue and put preventive measures in place, such as rate limiting, which reduces the frequency at which spam messages can be received, to stop some spam messages from coming through. — Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

For example, Myers said a puppy has different nutritional, behavioral and preventive healthcare needs from an adult, whose needs are focused on maintaining a healthy body and muscle condition, dental health and early detection of disease. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Noun

Padlocks, sickles and other objects made of iron, a metal said to possess anti-demonic powers, were stashed in the grave as preventives. — Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023

But although human vaccines function primarily as preventives, offering immunity to animals such as black-footed ferrets can be a conservation strategy of last resort. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 15 June 2023