Thesaurus results for CAUTIONARY

cautionary

adjective

Definition of cautionary

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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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 cautionary So the trade might also turn out to be a cautionary preemptive move if the NFL determines Nacua violated the league’s personal-conduct policy and suspends him. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Collins, Scott, and Whitmer spent much of the past year and a half framing their objections as cautionary. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 For an official who has studied police history, the FBI’s COINTELPRO program from 1956 to 1971 is the cautionary tale that should be a warning. — Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 Parton wrote this cautionary tale of a miner who leaves his wife and kids for the casinos of Reno. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 Or perhaps that will instead serve as a cautionary tale, that a camp invite, and even quality efforts during the preseason might not result in a roster spot. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 The trajectory of the California poll offers a cautionary tale about the perils of trusting unvetted polling. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026 Tuesday’s article is another cautionary tale to not read too much into this market’s conflicting cross currents and to take it all with a grain of salt. — Todd Gordon, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026 Lindsay Clancy's murder trial in Massachusetts has thrust postpartum mental health into the national spotlight, but not as a cautionary tale about rare psychiatric breaks. — John Samuels, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 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

Definition of warning

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caution

cautionary

cautioned

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“Cautionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cautionary. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cautionary

adjective

Example Sentences

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