Definitions

cautionary tale

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee teyl] / ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i ˈteɪl /

NOUN

piece of advice

Synonyms

WEAK

a few words of wisdom admonition advisory caution light caveat deterrent example enough said event illustrating a hazard forewarning hint lesson message moral omen portent red flag sign of things to come wake-up call warning word to the wise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Mann’s eyes, the South African government’s disastrous bid for absolute political power is a cautionary tale with particular resonance today.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

The sport has already lived through the cautionary tale of Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao, which shattered records when it finally happened but fell flat.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant open their book User Friendly with the cautionary tale of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Fans might look upon the Tagovailoa situation as a cautionary tale of handing out a big contract to a player who was no slam dunk.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Though she knew it was meant to be a cautionary tale, now that she had seen that fairy, she thought that Kathleen’s fate was not so cruel after all.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo