cautionary

[ kaw-shuh-ner-ee ]

/ ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR cautionary ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

Words nearby cautionary

cauterant, cauterize, cautery, caution, caution money, cautionary, cautious, cauvery, cav, cav., cava

Origin of cautionary

First recorded in 1590–1600; caution + -ary

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for cautionary

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
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
Read a cautionary tale about the seductive and dangerous power of a charlatan sociopath, featuring goats and the American Dream.
The Strange, True Tale of the Old-Timey Goat Testicle-Implanting 'Governor'|Penny Lane|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The battle-scarred daytime TV vet agrees that Vieira could survive and even thrive, but offers a cautionary note.
Can Meredith Vieira Break the Daytime Curse?|Lloyd Grove|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reverting for a moment to his former refuge, he observed a cautionary movement of her eyes towards the door.
Hard Times|Charles Dickens
Rarely do we find a cheerful tale such as “The Cherry Orchard” in this cautionary style of toy-book.
Forgotten Books of the American Nursery|Rosalie V. Halsey
And with the smile and the cautionary gesture of the true conspirator, he went away in the demi-light.
The Moonlit Way|Robert W. Chambers
He had raised his voice here, but was checked by the unflinching eye and cautionary gesture of the woman before him.
Gabriel Conroy|Bert Harte
Plodder's cautionary signal had been hoisted to some purpose after all.
Campaigning with Crook and Stories of Army Life|Charles King

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

adjective

Words related to cautionary

Words nearby cautionary

Origin of cautionary

Examples from the Web for cautionary

British Dictionary definitions for cautionary

adjective