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make an example of

Idioms

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.

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

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

“They never had anything on me ... they were trying to make an example of me.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2025

They wanted to make an example of Mangi Meli and other local leaders who may have been planning an uprising.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2023

“Don’t you do this. Don’t you drag these poor girls into our issues. This pageant isn’t some joke for you to make an example of me.”

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023