1
as in caution
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk
she delivered a strict warning that anyone who was caught stealing would be fired
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in sign
something that tells of approaching danger or risk
the ominously darkening sky was a warning that a tornado was approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cautionary
serving as or offering a warning
usually gave her trademark warning look when the children were getting out of hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in alerting
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk
the lifeguard warned the boys that if they continued playing so rough, someone was sure to get hurt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 warning
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Service members such as Partezana were sworn to silence for 43 years following the tests — until the law mandating that silence was lifted in 1996 — and given little warning about the harmful physical side effects of nuclear fallout.
—Hope Hodge Seck, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Fighting fire with fire Security analysts have been warning companies, governments, and the general public that hackers are ramping up their attacks in the wake of the widespread adoption of AI.
—Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warning
Noun
But as old tensions flare between them, Katie begins to experience terrifying visions and a ghostly presence warning of something sinister lurking aboard.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Service members such as Partezana were sworn to silence for 43 years following the tests — until the law mandating that silence was lifted in 1996 — and given little warning about the harmful physical side effects of nuclear fallout.
—Hope Hodge Seck, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
But in August 2025, Forbes reported that xAI made people’s conversations with Grok public and searchable on Google without warning.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Fighting fire with fire Security analysts have been warning companies, governments, and the general public that hackers are ramping up their attacks in the wake of the widespread adoption of AI.
—Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for warning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warning
Noun
-
The race came with some drama as a late caution sent the finale into overtime.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Trade discussions dominated those meetings, but there were signs of growing tensions over Beijing’s surging conventional and nuclear arsenal.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
However, unlike last season, there was no sign to those within the Capitals that their captain was feeling the pressure of scoring another historic goal.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The seductive pull of righteous retribution gives way to a full-on god complex, setting the stage for an extraordinary cautionary tale in the form of a cat-and-mouse procedural.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
For people scared of investing, Tu says to look closer at those cautionary tales.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The law offered Ohioans a cash incentive to inform on their neighbors by alerting local authorities whenever a white employer hired Black workers who had not registered or did not have proof of freedom.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The robot also serves as an inspection agent, alerting operators whenever unexpected occurrences or safety issues are detected in the warehouse area, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Beliefs in false statements dropped from 19.5 percent in the control group to 12.3 percent in the forewarning group and to 10.6 percent among the participants who received simple explanations without forewarnings.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
29 Aug. 2025
-
This is when your neighbors will appreciate some forewarning—and a chance to tell you about their concerns.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Police said a semi was southbound when the driver disregarded a red light and hit Yeary’s vehicle in the intersection.—
Jennifer Edwards Baker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Federal regulators also have opened yet another investigation into Tesla’s self-driving feature after dozens of incidents in which the cars ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometimes crashing into other vehicles and causing injuries.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
And while the formal rules on travel have relaxed, the admonitory official language is unchanged.—
John Liu,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2023
-
Satire has always had an admonitory function, and besides, some people are so obnoxious that a writer has to slow-walk the reader through their awfulness.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2022
Verb
-
Along with the Here for the Party re-record, Wilson has been busy advising contestants on CBS’s new musical competition series, The Road.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Eaton is a partner with the San Diego law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek where his practice focuses on defending and advising employers.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Warning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warning. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share