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
When a friend mentioned his brother died not from multiple myeloma but from an infection during treatment, Brown asked the AI about defensive measures and learned about prophylactic antibodies through monthly infusions.
—
Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Or that players need to change their approach to off-season training to account for the quick lateral movements that can lead to acute injuries, or that team trainers need to be more prophylactic and smarter about understanding the way the body compensates for instabilities.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
These include prophylactic vaccines, which prevent cancer, and therapeutic ones, which protect women who have already had breast cancer from getting it again.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
Two injections of lenacapavir every six months offer near-perfect protection; older prophylactic treatments require daily pills, a challenge in countries with weak health systems.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Or that players need to change their approach to off-season training to account for the quick lateral movements that can lead to acute injuries, or that team trainers need to be more prophylactic and smarter about understanding the way the body compensates for instabilities.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
These include prophylactic vaccines, which prevent cancer, and therapeutic ones, which protect women who have already had breast cancer from getting it again.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
Two injections of lenacapavir every six months offer near-perfect protection; older prophylactic treatments require daily pills, a challenge in countries with weak health systems.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prophylactic
Adjective
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This is why providers may recommend preventive medications before surgery, imaging tests with contrast dye, or even minor procedures.—
Suchandrima Bhowmik,
Health,
15 May 2026
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What to Do If Your Termite Prevention Fails If preventive measures fail, call a pro.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Many Americans also describe emotional exhaustion with the overall experience of navigating healthcare itself, from insurance disputes and fragmented care to long wait times and limited access to preventative treatment options.—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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When preventative maintenance is delayed, small issues become major failures, turning manageable repairs into expensive emergency projects that strain the county budget and slow response times.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prophylactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prophylactic. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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