preventative
Stops problems beforehand
Preventative means the same as preventive—intended to stop something undesirable from happening: preventative measures, preventative medicine.
Some usage guides prefer the shorter preventive, but preventative is well established and equally correct.
Both work as nouns for something that prevents: Vaccination is the best preventative against measles.
Feeling or showing expectation
- preemptiveActing to forestall
- forward-lookingOriented toward the future
- precautionaryDone to prevent harm
- preparednessState of being equipped
foresight · planning · strategic · contingency · readiness · predictive · preplanning · forecasting
Obstruction preventing passage
- protectionGuarding against harm
- bufferProtective intermediate space
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- firewallNetwork access control system
safeguard · shield · guard · failsafe · backup · redundancy · childproofing · guardrail
Measure preventing disease or harm
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- antimalarialDrug preventing tropical fever
- antibioticBacteria-killing medication
- fluorideNegatively charged halogen ion
statin · probiotic · sunscreen · antiviral · booster · inoculation · preexposure · supplement
Evaluative selection process
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- checkupRoutine health evaluation
- wellnessOverall state of health
nutrition · exercise · hygiene · fitness · diet · counseling · cholesterol · mammogram
Formal assessment of condition
- servicingPerforming routine maintenance
- upkeepOngoing preservation effort
- tune-upRoutine vehicle maintenance
- lubricationCoating to reduce friction
calibration · cleaning · testing · weatherproofing · overhaul
anticipatory
Feeling or showing expectation
- preemptiveActing to forestall
- forward-lookingOriented toward the future
- precautionaryDone to prevent harm
preparedness · foresight · planning · strategic · contingency · readiness · predictive · preplanning · forecasting · ahead-of-time
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- protectionGuarding against harm
- bufferProtective intermediate space
- deterrentThing that discourages action
firewall · safeguard · shield · guard · failsafe · backup · redundancy · childproofing · guardrail · lockout
prophylactic
Measure preventing disease or harm
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- antimalarialDrug preventing tropical fever
- antibioticBacteria-killing medication
fluoride · statin · probiotic · sunscreen · antiviral · booster · inoculation · preexposure · supplement
screening
Evaluative selection process
- vaccinationAdministered immunity booster
- immunizationProtective medical injection
- checkupRoutine health evaluation
wellness · nutrition · exercise · hygiene · fitness · diet · counseling · cholesterol · mammogram · colonoscopy
inspection
Formal assessment of condition
- servicingPerforming routine maintenance
- upkeepOngoing preservation effort
- tune-upRoutine vehicle maintenance
lubrication · calibration · cleaning · testing · weatherproofing · overhaul
preventativecurative
Promoting recovery from illness
remedial · corrective · reactive · cure · therapeutic
preventativefacilitating
Making something simpler
promoting · enabling · facilitative · furthering · fostering
- preventative medicineHealthcare to avert illness
- preventative careHealthcare anticipating future problems
- preventative measuresActions taken to avert harm
- preventative maintenanceScheduled care to avoid failures
- preventative healthMedical focus on avoiding illness