cautionary tale

American  

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee teyl] / ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i ˈteɪl /

noun

1. a story, experience, or situation that serves as a warning to others.

   The malware's devastating effect on her files became a cautionary tale about the importance of antivirus software.

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Etymology

Origin of cautionary tale

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cautionary tale

Bothwell, the astronomer, also said the collision would provide a cautionary tale about the issue of ever-accumulating, human-made space clutter.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

This is a cautionary tale — and a teachable moment — for anyone who has a blended family, with children from previous marriages.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

Inexplicable malevolence, dread-filled moods and worrisome behavior haunt his genre-speckled oeuvre, from 1997’s unnerving serial-killer freak-out “Cure” through his vengeance-fueled internet cautionary tale “Cloud” from two years ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

The history of Sino-Russian relations offers a cautionary tale about what happens when the senior partner overplays its hand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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