Definitions

cautionary tale

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee tayl] / 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.

See Examples For:

cautionary tale

Here’s a cautionary tale, which your readers may find of interest in light of that story.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

It is a cautionary tale that points to the potential profit and pitfalls when small local businesses push back against the onslaught of e-commerce by using technology to reach a wider audience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

That’s understandable, but I’m inclined to view this episode as a cautionary tale, one repeated far too often in American history.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026

A 24-year-old investor hailed as a visionary attracted billions—before turning into Wall Street’s latest cautionary tale.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Their curiosity always got the best of them, making him feel like a science experiment, a cautionary tale.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway