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.

"I hope I'll be a cautionary tale to someone who's in my position to make better choices."

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Franco’s situation serves as a cautionary tale for MLB teams that hand out long-term contracts years before players become free agents.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

It offers a cautionary tale for the rest of the Gulf of what can happen when uncertainty and instability become ingrained in countries whose selling points are wealth and peace.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

The 2021 “transitory” episode is a relevant cautionary tale.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

The horrors of Nazi eugenics inspired a cautionary tale, prompting a global reexamination of the ambitions that had spurred the effort.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee