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

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See Examples For:

cautionary tale

"What if I have completely overestimated my capabilities? What if my story ends up being a cautionary tale like Icarus about flying too close to the sun?" he writes in the book.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

The woylie, or brush-tailed bettong, is a cautionary tale.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

I saw not as a cautionary tale, but something to aspire to,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

This is a cautionary tale — and a lesson to not accept an insurance company’s first estimate.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 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