PREFATORY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

prefatory

adjective

ˈpre-fə-ˌtȯr-ē

Definition of prefatory

as in preparatory

coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows in prefatory remarks he offered his own definition of "civilization", a word subject to a variety of interpretations

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of prefatory There was a prefatory letter by Archibald MacLeish, a professor at Harvard and a former Librarian of Congress, and an introduction by Mark Schorer, a professor of English at Berkeley, along with blurbs from other eminent men of letters. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Despite some discouraging downward trends, all the prefatory jawing could go a long way toward siphoning off a fair number of viewers who might otherwise be locked in on the NFL. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025 The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble. — Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefatory

Adjective

The drawing may have been made as a preparatory study to show a prospective patron before Canaletto completed a related painting.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Canaletto expert Charles Beddington authenticated the drawing, which was likely a preparatory sketch for a painting last sold in 1995 for $354,000 (about $766,000 in today’s dollars).

— News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of preparatory

Adjective

The basic model of competitive markets which one finds in an introductory economics textbook—where independent firms engage in cold arm’s-length transactions motivated by unadulterated self-interest—does not apply to the industry.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
JetBlue is offering some introductory fares for BlueFirst seats for select flights, including a $299 flight from Boston to Fort Lauderdale, a $249 option from New York to Fort Lauderdale and a $299 option from New York to Liberia, Costa Rica.

— Maggie Roth, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of introductory

Adjective

Attendees asked engineers to provide preliminary cost estimates for street lighting running from the stadium connection north to Swepco Road.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
In a statement, police said the preliminary investigation indicates that a fight broke out prior to the shooting.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of preliminary

Browse Nearby Words

prefacing

prefatory

prefer

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“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefatory. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of prefatory

adjective

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