cautionary

[ kaw-shuh-ner-ee ]

/ ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i /

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See synonyms for cautionary on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of the nature of or containing a warning: cautionary advice; a cautionary tale.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of cautionary

First recorded in 1590–1600; caution + -ary

Words nearby cautionary

caustic surface, cauterant, cauterize, cautery, caution, cautionary, cautionary tale, caution money, cautious, Cauvery, cav.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cautionary in a sentence

The finding is “at the very least a cautionary tale,” says study author Julie Cosmidis, a geomicrobiologist at the University of Oxford.
Fossil mimics may be more common in ancient rocks than actual fossils|Carolyn Gramling|February 9, 2021|Science News
The Secret History is a cautionary tale about how certain strategies of hatred persist over time, manifesting themselves in various forms with the same tropes and characters.
What the QAnon of the 6th Century Teaches Us About Conspiracies|Roland Betancourt|February 3, 2021|Time
Scientists believe vaccines will probably remain effective because they produce a robust immune system response, but such reassurances have been paired with cautionary notes about how much remains unknown.
CDC warns highly transmissible coronavirus variant to become dominant in U.S.|Joel Achenbach|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
So, plainly cautionary tale — a little bit of knowledge is potentially dangerous.
Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar? (Ep. 445)|Stephen J. Dubner|December 24, 2020|Freakonomics

The dramatic rise and fall of Nikola over just a few months was this year’s cautionary tale.
Is the boom in electric vehicle stocks almost over?|Verne Kopytoff|December 19, 2020|Fortune
As an example of good science-and-society policymaking, the history of fluoride may be more of a cautionary tale.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Whilst Whitacre never defined himself as an “ally,” this remains a cautionary tale of what not to do.
Tech’s Male ‘Feminists’ Aren’t Helping|Cate Huston, Karen Catlin|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A truly cautionary tale of a 77-year-old versus the Internet.
The Bill Cosby Controversy Stages of Grief|Amy Zimmerman|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Ireland, the name of Sean Quinn will be forever linked in the public mind as the ultimate cautionary tale of riches to rags.
The Zillionaires Who Lost Everything|Tom Sykes|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gerald Ford and the swine flu pandemic that never happened in 1976 is a cautionary tale that government action can backfire.
How Presidents Handle Pandemics|Eleanor Clift|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There were a few cryptic cautionary references to heightened physico-psychological effects.
Hunter Patrol|Henry Beam Piper and John J. McGuire
Plodder's cautionary signal had been hoisted to some purpose after all.
Campaigning with Crook and Stories of Army Life|Charles King
A woman's intuitions do not ask to have a cautionary signal repeated.
Revisiting the Earth|James Langdon Hill
I here append a few cautionary hints which must be taken if you wish to dress well.
The Complete Bachelor|Walter Germain
"A close column forming column of fours," he cried in a shrill treble, quoting the cautionary part of his command.
The Amateur Army|Patrick MacGill

British Dictionary definitions for cautionary

cautionary

/ (ˈkɔːʃənərɪ) /

adjective

serving as a warning; intended to warna cautionary tale

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cautionary

Origin of cautionary

Words nearby cautionary

Words related to cautionary

How to use cautionary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cautionary