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preventive

/pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/noun, adjective3 syllables

Preventive means: tending to prevent or hinder.

Synonyms for preventive31

noun, as in any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome

hindrance, hinderance, hitch, preventative, encumbrance, incumbrance, interference

noun, as in an agent or device intended to prevent conception

contraceptive, preventative, contraceptive device, prophylactic device, birth control device

noun, as in remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease

preventative, prophylactic

adjective, as in tending to prevent or hinder

preventative, blockading, clogging, hindering, impeding, obstructive, deterrent, frustrating, frustrative, thwarting, precautionary, precautional, preclusive, obviating
and 5 more, preemptive, pre-emptive, prohibitive, prohibitory, protective

adjective, as in preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease

preventative, prophylactic, healthful

Opposites of preventive

permissive

What does preventive mean?5

adjective

1

tending to prevent or hinder

2

preventing or contributing to the prevention of disease“preventive medicine”

noun

1

any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome

2

an agent or device intended to prevent conception

3

remedy that prevents or slows the course of an illness or disease“the doctor recommended several preventatives”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with preventive?3

three syllables

incentiveattentiveinventive
Show 40 near rhymes
gettingtellingmarriageeffectivewearingweddingparissellinghelpingsettingpresentedelectricspendingintendeddomesticexpensiveconnectedendingselectedsuggestedacceptedtestingsharingaffectedarrestedsendingacademicdependingperspectivelettingrepresentedprotectedrecommendedextensiveheadingtestedattendedimpressiveoffensiveharris

Preventive in a sentence

  • A preventive war, to my mind, is an impossibility today.rul
  • Preventive measures are much more effective than the actual treatment.CM
  • Most insurance companies refuse to pay for preventive medicine.Tangobango
  • Health outcomes often depend on preventive measures and care.Nuel
  • That's the most realistic preventive measure, I think.rul
  • The use of a condom during vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse is the best preventive measure.neron
  • There's even talk of a preventive war by Israel against Syria.rul
  • Using a condom is preventive medicine.rul

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of preventive

as a noun

plural
preventives