as in cautious
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future
proactive decision by the city fathers to plan for the eventual withering away of the region's manufacturing base
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Recent Examples of proactive
Cal Fire takes a proactive approach by increasing its law enforcement arm in the lead up to the Fourth of July, said Mike Cornette, a fire captain and public information officer.
—
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Black women are at higher risk for both fibroids and vitamin D deficiency, making proactive health care and screenings especially important.
—
Sukhman Rekhi,
Verywell Health,
1 July 2026
In contrast, the Ducks didn’t prioritize signing then-20-year-old 45-point centre Leo Carlsson or then-21-year-old 20-goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier to proactive long-term extensions last summer.
—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Dutch cyber strategy has moved beyond a purely reactive model and now includes more proactive efforts to detect, disrupt, and counter hostile cyber activity.
—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for proactive
Paris Barraza,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Black women are at higher risk for both fibroids and vitamin D deficiency, making proactive health care and screenings especially important.
—
Sukhman Rekhi,
Verywell Health,
1 July 2026
In contrast, the Ducks didn’t prioritize signing then-20-year-old 45-point centre Leo Carlsson or then-21-year-old 20-goal-scorer Cutter Gauthier to proactive long-term extensions last summer.
—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Dutch cyber strategy has moved beyond a purely reactive model and now includes more proactive efforts to detect, disrupt, and counter hostile cyber activity.
—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for proactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proactive
Adjective
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Consumer confidence ticked up in June after weeks of anxiety tied to the conflict, though people remain cautious as worries about jobs and prices persist.
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Gymshark’s growth has slowed as competition has intensified and consumers have become more cautious about spending.
Adjective
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Determination and careful calculations — hold on, carry the 2 — are a must.
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Graduate students face lower federal limits and the loss of Grad PLUS, requiring careful financial planning.
Cite this Entry
“Proactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proactive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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