PREVENTION Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

prevention

noun

pri-ˈven(t)-shən

Definition of prevention

as in avoidance

the act or practice of keeping something from happening good crowd control is crucial to the prevention of riots

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of prevention Consumer advocacy groups, including those for wildfire victims, have criticized efforts to shield utilities from liability for fires caused by their equipment, arguing the utilities must do more on prevention. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 An unexpected discovery on alpha-gal syndrome NIH researchers looking for a malaria prevention strategy may have instead discovered a way to fight alpha-gal syndrome, according to a paper published yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Sep. 2026 Some hope lies in prevention, as evidence suggests diet, exercise and social engagement may lower one’s risk. — Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 Talk to your family doctor or reach out to organizations that specialize in mental health and suicide prevention. — Sarah Cottrell, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prevention

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prevention

Noun

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the upgrade is intended to support mission-essential navigation and weather avoidance while improving the aircraft’s capabilities for both conventional and nuclear missions.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Delaying a medical appointment is a common response to feeling stressed about what’s going on with your body, according to a 2021 study on health care avoidance.

— Glamour, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of avoidance

Noun

The Mountain West, a Group of Six conference, passed a similar prohibition hours after the ACC announcement.

— Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Dana Williams / The American High School The fix is not prohibition; that ship has sailed, and used well, these tools genuinely help.

— Dana Williams, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of prohibition

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preventing

prevention

preventive

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“Prevention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prevention. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of prevention

noun

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