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
Harrison praised the officers' proactive work and the negotiation team's efforts.
—
Doug Myers, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The proactive, detailed encouragement by professional leagues to turn athletes into content creators sharply underlines changing dynamics in the overall sports and media landscape, and at the Olympics themselves.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In the case of home damage after a freeze, being super proactive is your best bet for stopping any further issues from forming and ultimately saving stress, time, and money down the line.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Switching from reacting to scooting episodes to taking a proactive daily approach can dramatically improve your pet’s comfort.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proactive
Doug Myers, CBS News, 7 Feb. 2026
The proactive, detailed encouragement by professional leagues to turn athletes into content creators sharply underlines changing dynamics in the overall sports and media landscape, and at the Olympics themselves.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 6 Feb. 2026
In the case of home damage after a freeze, being super proactive is your best bet for stopping any further issues from forming and ultimately saving stress, time, and money down the line.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Switching from reacting to scooting episodes to taking a proactive daily approach can dramatically improve your pet’s comfort.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proactive
Adjective
-
Be cautious about taking on new debt that assumes your current income is guaranteed.—
Matt Shumer,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Connecticut education leaders are expressing cautious optimism as the state Department of Education tries its hand at course development.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As with any sauce, be careful not to over-reduce.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proactive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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