cautionary

USAGE SUMMARY

Cautionary is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that serves as a warning, or as a noun to refer to something meant to caution or warn about a particular thing. Example sentence: The cautionary tale serves as a reminder to never underestimate your opponent.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it would be equally rash to brush off this cautionary tale, which, at the least, suggests that creating hundreds of independent institutions offers scant protection against a slide in standards.

The Guardian - Opinion

The more cautionary tale arrives in the form of Michelle Wie, who shot to stardom at the same age as Li.

The Guardian - Sport

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 5.55am BST05:55 Debate moderator Martha Raddatz is now on stage and telling the audience the cautionary tale about the time her cell phone went off during a White House press briefing, to discover that her son had changed her ring-tone to hip-hop.

The Guardian

Over by the exit, another poster struck a cautionary note for any millionaire magpie who is tempted to throw open their chequebook.

The Guardian - Film

Edward Furlong shiftily sidled up a full two years later with this cautionary tale about a rad CD-ROM game that ends up being, like, really bad.

The Guardian - Film

At the same time, as in this cautionary speech, he will seek to head off a stampede of relieved voters back to Labour by stressing the risks that remain.

The Economist

Perhaps, before they plough on with their schemes, Kazakh and Malaysian officials should consider the cautionary tale of the world's existing purpose-built capitals.Any century nowFor planners of Great Capitals, timing is the first problem.

The Economist

Overindebted IVG struggled to pay its debts.Germany can shrug at this cautionary tale, though.

The Economist

They have studied the cautionary tale of Republicans in America and their wooing of devout, family-minded, hard-working Hispanics (who are Republicans but "just don't know it", in the words of Ronald Reagan).

The Economist

Afghan smugglers of heroin, some as young as 15, have been hanged near the border as a cautionary spectacle.Over the past two decades Singapore has reduced its drug executions from several dozen a year to one or two; and Malaysia is using the death penalty less.

The Economist

The possibilities for temperance-themed joshing along the lines of inveterate Labour spendthrifts committing to "The Pledge"—are at once limited and endless.Mr Osborne's cautionary speech was the war-dance of a vindicated chancellor.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cautionary" to introduce a warning or preventive measure, ensuring the context clearly indicates what is being cautioned against.

Common error

Avoid using "cautionary" when a stronger term like "critical" or "urgent" is more appropriate. "Cautionary" implies a moderate level of concern, not immediate danger.

Linguistic Context

"Cautionary" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something serves as a warning or provides caution. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "cautionary" precedes nouns like "tale", "note", and "speech".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "cautionary" is an adjective used to describe something that serves as a warning. Ludwig AI affirms its frequent use in various contexts, with a prevalence in News & Media and Formal & Business sources. It’s grammatically sound and conveys a sense of alerting one to potential risks. When writing, use "cautionary" to introduce a preventive measure or warning. Be mindful of overuse; stronger terms may be necessary when facing situations involving a higher sense of danger. Semantically related terms include "warning", "advisory", and "preventive".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

warning

A direct and straightforward alternative, focusing on alerting someone to danger.

forewarning

Implies giving a warning in advance of an event.

alerting

Highlights the action of making someone aware of a potential danger.

advisory

Emphasizes the act of giving advice, similar to providing a warning.

admonitory

Implies a gentle but firm warning, often with the intent of correcting behavior.

preventive

Highlights the action of preventing something negative from happening.

monitory

Similar to admonitory, indicating a warning or reminder.

prophylactic

Focuses on preventing disease or other undesirable outcomes.

exemplary

Suggests serving as a warning example for others.

red flag

An idiom indicating a sign of danger or a problem.

FAQs

How can I use "cautionary" in a sentence?

Use "cautionary" as an adjective to describe something that provides a warning. For example, "The "cautionary tale" served as a reminder of the dangers involved."

What's a good alternative to the word "cautionary"?

Depending on the context, you could use "warning", "advisory", or "preventive" as alternatives to "cautionary".

Is it correct to say "a cautionary" or should it always be "cautionary"?

"Cautionary" is typically used as an adjective, so you would use it before a noun. For example, "a "cautionary note"" is correct.

What is the difference between "cautionary" and "cautious"?

"Cautionary" describes something that provides a warning, while "cautious" describes someone who is careful and avoids risks. For example, "The sign was cautionary" versus "The driver was cautious."