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
Surgery: People who are at very high risk for breast cancer may choose to have a prophylactic mastectomy (having their breasts removed ).
—
Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 27 Feb. 2025
The agency is also recommending that workers on affected farms who have had a high-risk exposure, such as a splash of milk in the face with raw cow milk, receive prophylactic treatment with oseltamivir, an antiviral medication also known as Tamiflu.
—Bykai Kupferschmidt, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024
Two main strategies to eradicate the virus exist: prophylactic vaccines, to prevent initial infection, and therapeutic vaccines, to help people already infected.
—Dr. Tal Patalon, Md, Llb, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
With their current study, the researchers are seeking to shift the paradigm and adopt a more proactive, prophylactic approach to pain management.
—New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 27 Feb. 2025
The agency is also recommending that workers on affected farms who have had a high-risk exposure, such as a splash of milk in the face with raw cow milk, receive prophylactic treatment with oseltamivir, an antiviral medication also known as Tamiflu.
—Bykai Kupferschmidt, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024
Two main strategies to eradicate the virus exist: prophylactic vaccines, to prevent initial infection, and therapeutic vaccines, to help people already infected.
—Dr. Tal Patalon, Md, Llb, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
With their current study, the researchers are seeking to shift the paradigm and adopt a more proactive, prophylactic approach to pain management.
—New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for prophylactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prophylactic
preventive
Adjective
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As a required preventive service under a provision of the Affordable Care Act, PrEP users are not supposed to face utilization management barriers, such as cost-sharing and prior authorization protocols.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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These same-day surgery centers are more convenient and less expensive for patients by providing care—including diagnostic and preventive procedures—without the need for an overnight stay.—
Newsweek Rankings,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prophylactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prophylactic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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