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.

The U.K. offers a cautionary tale.

From The Wall Street Journal

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has a cautionary tale to avoid when he takes office in January.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a cautionary tale, it’s way more effective than coal in the stocking.

From Los Angeles Times

However, the record high in household debt signals a cautionary tale: Consumers can prop up the economy until they can’t.

From Barron's

It’s a cautionary tale of how far stock prices can depart from reality.

From The Wall Street Journal