proactive

adjective

(ˌ)prō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce proactive (audio)
Definition of proactivenext
as in cautious
having or showing awareness of and preparation for the future proactive decision by the city fathers to plan for the eventual withering away of the region's manufacturing base

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Example Sentences

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 proactive By being more proactive than reactive, artificial intelligence can spot gaps between global supply chains and patient demand, flagging and addressing issues before pharmacies and hospitals face shortages. — Marc Saltzman, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 The bigger longevity benefit may have less to do with the ED drug itself and more to do with being proactive about doctor’s visits. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2026 In its effort to diversify, Nvidia is being proactive rather than waiting for new customers to arrive. — Kif Leswing, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 The next frontier in athlete safety must be proactive brain protection. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for proactive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proactive
  1. cautious
  2. careful
Adjective
  • Florida’s Republican gubernatorial ticket is defying historic trends for a political party traditionally known for elevating white men to leadership positions — even as the GOP remains cautious about drawing attention to the shift.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Bindi, a young female wallaby, is inquisitive and extremely curious, while Wally, a young male wallaby, is more cautious and likes to look at things from afar, Borozenets said.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cautious
Adjective
  • Getting to that point required careful control of stress during fabrication.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Huntsinger, playing along with Variety’s should-win/will-win Emmy prediction game, drew a careful line.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of careful

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pro
proactive
probabilities
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Cite this Entry

“Proactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proactive. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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