What is another word for preventive attack?
Pronunciation: [pɹɪvˈɛntɪv ɐtˈak] (IPA) 
Preventive attack refers to a military action that aims to prevent an imminent threat or to undermine an adversary's capabilities before they can be used against another country. There are several synonyms for preventive attack, including preemptive strike, anticipatory action, preventive war, and preemption. Each term describes a different aspect of a preemptive attack strategy. A preemptive strike is a military operation that occurs before an anticipated attack. Anticipatory action emphasizes the need to act before an adversary can become too powerful. Preventive war implies that no immediate threat exists, but preventive action is taken to weaken an adversary. Finally, preemption stresses the need to act quickly to prevent an opponent from gaining the upper hand.
