cautionary tale

[kaw-shuh-ner-ee teyl]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cautionary tale¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Every host has a cautionary tale.

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Yalta is the perfect cautionary tale: Stalin’s influence condemned Eastern Europe to 45 years of communist tyranny.

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William Lafi Youmans, co-creator of a documentary investigating Odeh’s death, said he grew up in Detroit hearing about Odeh as a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too vocal.

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The Maharashtra government said GM’s case “should not be viewed as a cautionary tale about regulatory hurdles,” and said the length of time it took to close the GM factory wasn’t due simply to labor rules.

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The story of Sovann Komar is a cautionary tale.

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