as in preventive
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening
the many prophylactic measures that city officials could have taken to reduce the scope of the disaster
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Recent Examples of prophylactic
While cases are likely to be fatal when symptoms show up, Harrist told the outlet that a five-shot prophylactic course during a two-week period after being exposed, had a high chance of preventing sickness.
—
Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
For example, when patients undergo surgery to remove a tumour, they are often given prophylactic antibiotics to prevent post-operative infections.
—Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
People with weakened immune systems may also benefit from using a laundry sanitizer as a prophylactic measure.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
And he’s got a prophylactic nasal rinse, which, actually, he’s come to sort of like for reasons that don’t have much to do with COVID.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
For example, when patients undergo surgery to remove a tumour, they are often given prophylactic antibiotics to prevent post-operative infections.
—Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
People with weakened immune systems may also benefit from using a laundry sanitizer as a prophylactic measure.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
And he’s got a prophylactic nasal rinse, which, actually, he’s come to sort of like for reasons that don’t have much to do with COVID.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prophylactic
Adjective
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One cup of cooked oatmeal already provides about six grams of protein, Stephani Johnson, RDN, DCN, an adjunct professor of clinical and preventive nutrition services at the Rutgers School of Health Professions, told Verywell.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
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Other preventive measures include not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This can also be used regularly as a preventative measure in the spring and summer.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
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This comes as companies like Oura, which developed the Oura ring and just announced an $11 billion valuation following a $900 million funding round, are front-runners in the next frontier in preventative health care.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prophylactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prophylactic. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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