Defoe praised the preparatory work by London's mayor and the city's councilmen, as well as the College of Physicians, in their efforts to contain the plague.
Source: tatoeba (8607966)
Preparatory
/ˈpɹɛp(ə)ɹətɔɹi/
Synonyms for "preparatory" (136 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Adjective(9 words)
preparativeanticipatorybridging conceptbridging planchemical preparationdiagnostic testearly planningeducational capacitationeducational foundation
Verb(1 words)
Noun(9 words)
basic researchcapacitatingcapacitating exercise sessioncleansingcollege prep programconditioning programdraftingdryexam preparation
Strong matches (40)
Noun(16 words)
forearmingfuture orientationgirdinggroominggrooming servicesinitializingintrointro physics conceptsintroducinglearning planlimberingmore introductoryopening actpilot study reportplanningplanning concept
Adjective(13 words)
foundational academic subjectfundamental physics conceptsintroductoryintroductory lessonintroductory physics classintroductory physics courseintroductory physics problemintroductory sessionmilitary advanceopening stepphysical conditioningplanfulplanning category
Related words (68)
Noun(36 words)
planning education taskplanning ideaplanning lessonplanning materialplanning relatedplanning sampleplanning stepplanning toolplanning unitpractice testprearrangingpreconditioningprefacingpreliminary design stagepreppreparingpreplanningpreseasonprimingqualifying adjective
Show 16 more words
qualifying term definitionqualifying term examplequalifying term usagesample preparationseed gatheringsensitizingsignal cuestagingstaging areastarterstarter kitsteppingstonetest reviewtrainingusheringwater outage
Adjective(13 words)
planning rubricplanning-relatedpractice qualifying exampreliminarypreliminary editpreliminary studypreparticipation physicalprewarpropaedeuticqualifying modifierqualifying statementstarting materialtransitionary
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: preparative, antecedent, anterior, anticipatory, attempted.
- Sentence evidence is available for preparatory, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "preparatory".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "preparatory"
Keep "preparatory" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "preparatory" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "preparatory", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "preparatory" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
5 entriesbridge programintroductory coursepreparatory drillpreparatory exercisepreparatory reading
Collocations
5 entriespreparatory exercisespreparatory periodpreparatory readingpreparatory schoolpreparatory work
Inflections
2 entriesmore preparatorymost preparatory
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
8 total sentences available.
She studied music at a preparatory school.
Source: tatoeba (8985352)
Tom went to an elite preparatory school.
Source: tatoeba (9365572)
"You said that Tom is taking the secondary school entrance exam? Where is he going for preparatory school?" "He's going to one in the city." "How is he getting there? Are you taking him to and from?" "No. He always gets there by himself."
Source: tatoeba (10785524)
Showing 4 of 8 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "preparatory"?
Closest matches include preparative, antecedent, anterior, anticipatory, attempted.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "preparatory"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.