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
Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Internal warnings were brushed aside.
—Jennifer Nassour, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
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
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
There are warning labels on the product that tell users not to heat them.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warning
Noun
Some governments banned the service or issued warnings.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Internal warnings were brushed aside.
—Jennifer Nassour, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
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
Campbell County is under a level one snow emergency, warning motorists to use caution, reduce speed and allow extra travel time.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
There are warning labels on the product that tell users not to heat them.
—Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for warning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warning
Noun
-
There are many potential downsides to relying too much on AI personas; see my cautions at the link here.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Clear out any house vents and consider clearing your roof if possible (use extreme caution).—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There were no clear signs of things getting better, either, and with all the teams beneath and around them in the table improving, there was little choice but to make a change in the dugout.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In a sign of confidence that an attack may be off the cards for now, oil prices fell and Gulf stock prices rose.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In this version of events, Easter Island is a cautionary tale of a population that destroyed itself, its island paradise, and whatever mysterious civilization had created its thousand or so stone monuments, or moai.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This positions higher education as both a cautionary tale and a proving ground for burnout-proof leadership strategies across sectors.—
Jallicia Jolly,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
No whistles alerting targets to the officers’ presence.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management & Communications is alerting travelers to expect dangerous conditions for their morning and evening commutes on Friday.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And so this conversation around FIFA, that’s just a forewarning of what potentially could be coming and affecting us.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Yes, drivers are required to stop at red lights at onramp traffic meters.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
As for non-surgical treatments, red light therapy, lasers and platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) can be carried out in-office to help support hair regrowth for people with androgenetic hair loss, says Kash.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
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
-
The governor, Tim Walz, defeated for the Vice Presidency, gets on TV, his voice quavering, saying the right things, speaking the truth, and advising courage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Cruise lines such as Margaritaville at Sea have begun alerting their guests of the policy, advising passengers to leave any vaping devices onboard the ships or just avoid bringing them altogether, according to numerous reports.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Warning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warning. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
