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Preventive

/pɹɪˈvɛntɪv/

A thing that prevents, hinders, or acts as an obstacle to.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Preventive"

noun

1
A thing that prevents, hinders, or acts as an obstacle to.
2
A thing that slows the development of an illness.
3
A contraceptive, especially a condom.

adjective

1
Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.
2
Carried out to deter military aggression.
3
Slowing the development of an illness; prophylactic.
4
Going before; preceding.

🔄 Synonyms of "Preventive"

29 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
hitchnoun	(informal) A problem, delay or source of difficulty.
encumbrancenoun	Something that encumbers; a burden that must be carried.
hindrancenoun	Something which hinders: something that holds back or causes problems with something else.
preemptive	Made so as to deter an anticipated unpleasant situation.
prophylacticnoun	A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.
deterrentnoun	Something that deters.
thwartingnoun	An instance of blocking or obstructing.
incumbrancenoun	(property law) An interest, right, burden, or liability attached to a title of land, such as a lien or mortgage.
interferencenoun	The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.
hindering	Harmful; that hinders.
frustrating	Discouraging; causing annoyance or anger by excessive difficulty.
protectivenoun	Serving or intended to protect.
cautionary	Serving to caution or warn; admonitory
healthful	Beneficial to bodily health.
obstructivenoun	Causing obstructions.
preventativenoun	Alternative form of preventive. [Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.]
impeding	preventing movement
precautionarynoun	Of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution.
preclusive	Serving to preclude.
prohibitivenoun	Costly to the extreme; beyond budget.
cloggingnoun	The situation of something being clogged.
frustrativenoun	That frustrates; causing frustration.
contraceptivenoun	That acts to prevent conception as a result of sexual intercourse.
prohibitory	That serves to prohibit or forbid
blockading	blocking entrance to and exit from seaports and harbors

↔️ Antonyms of "Preventive"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
permissivenoun	Giving permission, or predisposed to give it; lenient.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Preventive"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
deterrent	Serving to deter, preventing something from happening.
prohibitory	That serves to prohibit or forbid
thwartingnoun	An instance of blocking or obstructing.
prohibitive	Costly to the extreme; beyond budget.
preclusive	Serving to preclude.
obstructive	Causing obstructions.
hindering	Harmful; that hinders.
hindrancenoun	Something which hinders: something that holds back or causes problems with something else.
interferencenoun	The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.
preventative	Alternative form of preventive. [Preventing, hindering, or acting as an obstacle to.]
encumbrancenoun	Something that encumbers; a burden that must be carried.
incumbrancenoun	(property law) An interest, right, burden, or liability attached to a title of land, such as a lien or mortgage.
cloggingnoun	The situation of something being clogged.
precautional	Archaic form of precautionary. [Of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution.]
precautionary	Of, pertaining to, or serving as a precaution.
frustrative	That frustrates; causing frustration.
cautionary	Serving to caution or warn; admonitory
frustrating	Discouraging; causing annoyance or anger by excessive difficulty.
protective	Serving or intended to protect.
healthful	Beneficial to bodily health.