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make an example of

Idioms  
  1. Punish someone so as to be a warning to others, as in The teacher made an example of the boy she caught cheating, or The judge imposed a tough sentence to make an example of the car thieves. This usage is first recorded in John Wycliffe's followers' translation of the Bible (c. 1382).


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The lawsuit brought under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 says the groups sought to make an example of Khalil to intimidate the movement for Palestinian rights.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 14, 2026

It was clear prosecutors sought to make an example of her and send a message that no one is above the law when it comes to insider trading.

From Salon Mar. 26, 2026

Why did he have to make an example of a player who was understandably overeager on what could have been one of the triumphant nights of his life?

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 18, 2026

The coach did not make an example of Vinicius, and instead restored his near untouchable status -- even through a run of 16 matches without scoring, which finally ended in Jeddah.

From Barron's Jan. 12, 2026

“We are not looking to make an example of any of our students,” Dr. Jansen answered.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

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