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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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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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
Nonetheless, observers caution against framing the Houthis’ recent intervention as merely executing Iran’s regional agenda. Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, cautioned that some pumps could simply be out of fuel. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
The state’s caution stems from a law that prevents California from reducing school funding after a fiscal year ends. Chaewon Chung updated September 15, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026 These include whether a stock is a nano float (under 1 million), whether a company is domiciled in certain foreign countries and exercising extreme caution when spotting possible overseas manipulation. David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for caution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caution
Verb
  • But advocates for people in poverty warned that the gains might be short-lived.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Officials frame the shift as backing drug interdiction and border security, reviving Monroe Doctrine-era claims to dominance in the Americas while warning against growing Chinese influence in Latin America.
    Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Short-term rates went to 5% and change, Treasury bills paid more than investment grade corporates, and savers who had spent fifteen years being punished for prudence suddenly got paid handsomely for doing nothing.
    Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In those conditions, United’s prudence makes financial sense.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That we, as human beings, have been endowed with the ability to channel that creativity fills me with a sense of awe and wonder.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Steinbach thinks audiences look at both with the same mix of wonder and dread.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Residents and visitors have been urged to closely monitor the weather and the watches or warnings as Lowell approaches the islands, the hurricane center said.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The officer lets her off with a warning, and then everyone goes to bed.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Saudi energy minister said Friday that the East-West Pipeline was closed as a precaution after multiple attacks in the region.
    Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The 12th annual Chinatown Night Out event took special precautions to keep everyone safe and cool.
    Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The platform instantly identifies the failure and alerts the integrator’s network operations center (NOC).
    Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • At that point Homeland Security Investigations, which had been alerted about the Haiti allegations, accelerated their federal investigation.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This carefulness is clearly strategic.
    Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • There was no carefulness in it.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • A number of cases of possible miracles are under review at the Vatican.
    Joe Holden, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • On Sunday, the plan appeared no more complex than hoping that Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo could produce a miracle pass or, in the first half, that Marcus Rashford could generate momentum by skipping past defenders.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Caution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caution. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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