as in warning
serving as or offering a warning
the story of King Midas is a cautionary tale about the perils of wishing for something—you just might get it
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Recent Examples of cautionary
Hurricane Andrew — the lethal 1992 storm that almost always gets invoked as a cautionary tale — struck during a relatively quiet year and though fierce, was puny by comparison.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
However, the demise of a similar project in Serbia offers a cautionary tale.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Crew members believe that blame should be shared equally between producers and financiers, with some describing it as a cautionary tale.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026
Jay Cooke’s Trillion-Dollar Mistake The 1870s, however, offer a cautionary tale.
—Fortune, 2 June 2026
Distillate inventories add another cautionary note.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Kean, the national team’s current superstar, might offer a cautionary tale.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
The cautionary tale is all around us.
—Christos Korgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Quick up, quick down The most recent cautionary tale is Avis.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
However, the demise of a similar project in Serbia offers a cautionary tale.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Crew members believe that blame should be shared equally between producers and financiers, with some describing it as a cautionary tale.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026
Jay Cooke’s Trillion-Dollar Mistake The 1870s, however, offer a cautionary tale.
—Fortune, 2 June 2026
Distillate inventories add another cautionary note.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Kean, the national team’s current superstar, might offer a cautionary tale.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
The cautionary tale is all around us.
—Christos Korgan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Quick up, quick down The most recent cautionary tale is Avis.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cautionary
warning
Adjective
-
The bureau also will post more warning notices at 750 livestock sale facilities and review other potential changes to federal regulations.—
SCOTT SONNER,
Star Tribune,
27 July 2021
-
In response, statistical authorities around the world could do little but issue warning press releases.—
Andrew Whitby,
Time,
17 Apr. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Cautionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautionary. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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