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
Many SPACs liquidated rather than find deals, and the once red-hot sector became a cautionary tale.
—
Yun Li, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
The Judases, as was their namesake, are a cautionary tale.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
This is more than just a cautionary tale for Democrats who want to win races.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
And as Wired recently observed, the documentary’s cautionary aspects can be read alongside Frankenstein’s to fine effect.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Ticket resale giant StubHub offers another cautionary tale of regulatory risk destroying enterprise value.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
This is more than just a cautionary tale for Democrats who want to win races.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
The streamer will give this gripping and intense film — which is a cautionary letter about the nuclear stockpile across the world — a theatrical, qualifying play in theaters starting October 10.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
At its core, the film is a cautionary tale of biological determinism—how genetic data, when misused, can restrict rather than empower.
—Niven R. Narain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Yun Li, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
The Judases, as was their namesake, are a cautionary tale.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025
This is more than just a cautionary tale for Democrats who want to win races.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
And as Wired recently observed, the documentary’s cautionary aspects can be read alongside Frankenstein’s to fine effect.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Ticket resale giant StubHub offers another cautionary tale of regulatory risk destroying enterprise value.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
This is more than just a cautionary tale for Democrats who want to win races.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
The streamer will give this gripping and intense film — which is a cautionary letter about the nuclear stockpile across the world — a theatrical, qualifying play in theaters starting October 10.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Sep. 2025
At its core, the film is a cautionary tale of biological determinism—how genetic data, when misused, can restrict rather than empower.
—Niven R. Narain, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
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 7 Oct. 2025.
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