caution 1 of 2

Definition of cautionnext
as in to warn
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk the doctor cautioned that I should still be careful using my sprained wrist for the next several days

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caution

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in wonder
something extraordinary or surprising how she manages to drive her car without destroying the neighborhood is a caution

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3
as in warning
something that tells of approaching danger or risk this is just a caution that the following paragraph practically gives away the entire plot of the movie

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4
5
as in precaution
a measure taken to preclude loss or injury the standard caution of donning surgical gloves before performing any kind of dental work

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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 caution
Verb
JPMorgan cautioned that markets appeared technically stretched after the sharp rally and that bouts of consolidation were likely. Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 May 2026 One former department official cautioned us against counting out Miller or predicting a long-term loss of influence on immigration policy. Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
Noun
Turn on stronger login protection where possible and treat urgent messages with caution. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026 Jason Adam has been as effective as ever since returning from a quad tendon rupture, but the Padres need to exercise caution with the 34-year-old, too. Dennis Lin, New York Times, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for caution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caution
Verb
  • Legislation in Washington proposes offsetting any lost Highway Trust Fund revenue with general funds, but critics warn that could raise the federal deficit — and potentially jeopardize the long-term sustainability of infrastructure projects.
    Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
  • But legislative budget experts warned last year of a potential AI bubble that could worsen the state's finances.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • That prudence by supporters of the center, including County Commissioner Raquel Regalado and Judge Steve Leifman, is now being used against them to keep the center in limbo.
    Jim DeFede, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
  • By all accounts, being a milquetoast is a sort of vice—cowardice masquerading as prudence.
    Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Benjamín Echazarreta’s cinematography is alert to the workaday energy of the hotel as well as the eerie beauty of the setting, with its mix of fairy-tale wonder and bone-deep dread.
    Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
  • Some looks are too good to be treated as a one-wear wonder, and such looks are often by Chanel.
    Alice Newbold, Vogue, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The researchers argue that the daily dataset has diagnostic potential, serving as an early warning system for economic cycles, a humanitarian planning tool, and a means of tracking ecological consequences as illuminated nights continue to change at an accelerating pace.
    Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • Ouija boards were enshrined in glass cases throughout the room; periodically, a small silver bell tolled without warning, moving as though on its own.
    Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Just be sure to follow the directions and take proper safety precautions to avoid breathing in the spray.
    Dan Simms, USA Today, 15 May 2026
  • Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Davis, the observer, said that unlike the earlier trackers, the Migra Map doesn’t attempt to alert people to events occurring in real time, but reports enforcement actions after the fact.
    Carolina Cuellar, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
  • Look for a service that monitors all three major credit bureaus, scans the dark web and alerts you to suspicious changes tied to your identity.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • There was no carefulness in it.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • Organizations can benefit by valuing carefulness and concentration not as an obligation, but as a fundamental pillar of success.
    Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But without the enormously impactful Doncic, his task has proven too tenuous, his responsibilities too unwieldy, his miracle too unworkable.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
  • To me, this is kind of a miracle.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Caution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caution. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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