preventive 1 of 2

adjective

pri-ˈven-tiv How to pronounce preventive (audio)
Definition of preventivenext
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

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

Example Sentences

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 preventive
Adjective
Identifying those concentrations allows insurers to work with companies on preventive measures before a disruption results in major losses. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 Authorities also took preventive measures in the port city of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, ahead of the storm, national Civil Protection Coordinator Laura Velázquez said Monday. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 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 See All Example Sentences for preventive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preventive
  1. preventative
  2. precaution
Adjective
  • Marathon Health, a health company that provides preventative and primary care and has 3,500 employees based around the country, contracted Progyny last year to offer midlife benefits.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Kerry is an example; thanks to preventative screening, doctors found a nodule in her lung that ended up being cancerous.
    — Tara Molina, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of preventative
Noun
  • As an additional precaution, Water District 29 will temporarily shut off water service, affecting the Sunset Restaurant.
    — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Although safety precautions for drivers have vastly improved since the heyday of Lorenzen and Waltrip, concussions and the prospect of CTE remain a constant fear within the sport.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of precaution

Browse Nearby Words

prevention
preventive
preventives
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Cite this Entry

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

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