as in preventive
concerned with or serving to keep something from happening
the many prophylactic measures that city officials could have taken to reduce the scope of the disaster
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Recent Examples of prophylactic
Seers followed diagnosis with a prophylactic treatment, analogous to when tech companies prescribe more tech to deal with the problems that arise from tech.
—
Literary Hub,
22 Apr. 2026
The plan may be flawed, but making one is a kind of prophylactic.
—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Gholston of Jacksonville pleaded guilty March 2 to conspiring to collect kickbacks by referring Medicare and Medicaid recipients to receive prophylactic medicines that prevent infection with the virus that causes AIDS.
—
Steve Patterson,
Florida Times-Union,
3 Mar. 2026
Other risks include asymmetry, under- and over-correction, infections (very rare), and viral reactivation in those prone to herpes (a prophylactic dose of Valtrex can help prevent it).
—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Literary Hub,
22 Apr. 2026
The plan may be flawed, but making one is a kind of prophylactic.
—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Gholston of Jacksonville pleaded guilty March 2 to conspiring to collect kickbacks by referring Medicare and Medicaid recipients to receive prophylactic medicines that prevent infection with the virus that causes AIDS.
—
Steve Patterson,
Florida Times-Union,
3 Mar. 2026
Other risks include asymmetry, under- and over-correction, infections (very rare), and viral reactivation in those prone to herpes (a prophylactic dose of Valtrex can help prevent it).
—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prophylactic
Adjective
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Wisconsin girl began rabies treatment after bat bite The report comes as public health officials continue to warn about rabies risks following a recent case in Wisconsin, where a 6-year-old girl received preventive treatment after a bat bite.
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Specifically, policymakers cite the importance of more preventive care in addition to lifestyle modifications such as a better diet and more exercise that improve health independent of healthcare provision.
Adjective
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Increasingly, however, many are embracing a different definition—one that includes rest, healing, preventative care, joy, and self-investment.
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High-quality swim lessons can be a vital preventative measure to combat this issue.
Cite this Entry
“Prophylactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prophylactic. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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