adj. 1 preventative, preventing, hindering, impeding, restraining, hampering, inhibitive or inhibitory, inhibiting, restrictive We must take preventive steps to ensure the stability of the rate of exchange 2 preventative, prophylactic, precautionary, anticipatory or anticipative, protective, counteractive Preventive means are available to limit heart disease
n. 3 preventative, hindrance, curb, inhibition, impediment, block, barrier, obstacle, obstruction Caffeine is one of the most powerful preventives of sleep that exists 4 preventative, prophylactic, protection, shield, safeguard, prevention, countermeasure, counteractant, counter-agent, inoculum or inoculant, vaccine, serum, antidote, remedy Heart specialists have recommended an aspirin every other day as a preventive to arterial blood clotting