cautionary
Meant as warning
Cautionary describes something intended as a warning: a cautionary tale, a cautionary note.
The word appears most often in cautionary tale—a story showing what happens when someone makes a mistake or ignores good advice: His bankruptcy became a cautionary tale about overleveraging.
Intended to instruct
- educativeServing to teach
- enlighteningProviding new understanding
- informativeProviding useful knowledge
- soberingPrompting serious reflection
eye-opening · pedagogic · moralistic · exemplary · revelatory · heuristic · illuminating · admonitory
Warning or watchfulness
- advisoryNotice recommending action
- noticeBecome aware of
- bulletinBrief public announcement
- announcementPublic declaration of information
siren · alarm · signal · beacon · hazard · danger · red flag · distress
Moral tale with animals
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- morality playDrama teaching ethical lessons
- object lessonPractical teaching example
Icarus · Frankenstein · foreshadowing · tragedy · downfall · hubris · consequences · example
Ominously significant
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- premonitoryGiving advance warning
- propheticForetelling future events
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
omen · presage · augury · forewarning · dark cloud · ill-boding · threatening · sinister
Carefully considering consequences
- guardedWary and restrained
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
- waryGuardedly alert
discreet · conservative · measured · restrained · tentative · risk-averse · hedged · reserved
Precaution against harm
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- prophylacticMeasure preventing disease or harm
- protective measureAction preventing harm
- safety netProtection against failure
failsafe · backup · contingency · insurance · hedge · buffer · preemptive · risk mitigation
didactic
Intended to instruct
- educativeServing to teach
- enlighteningProviding new understanding
- informativeProviding useful knowledge
sobering · eye-opening · pedagogic · moralistic · exemplary · revelatory · heuristic · illuminating · admonitory · monitory
alert
Warning or watchfulness
announcement · siren · alarm · signal · beacon · hazard · danger · red flag · distress · evacuation
fable
Moral tale with animals
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- morality playDrama teaching ethical lessons
object lesson · Icarus · Frankenstein · foreshadowing · tragedy · downfall · hubris · consequences · example · lesson
portentous
Ominously significant
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- premonitoryGiving advance warning
- propheticForetelling future events
harbinger · omen · presage · augury · forewarning · dark cloud · ill-boding · threatening · sinister · menacing
circumspect
Carefully considering consequences
- guardedWary and restrained
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
wary · discreet · conservative · measured · restrained · tentative · risk-averse · hedged · reserved · watchful
safeguard
Precaution against harm
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- prophylacticMeasure preventing disease or harm
- protective measureAction preventing harm
safety net · failsafe · backup · contingency · insurance · hedge · buffer · preemptive · risk mitigation · due diligence
cautionaryencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
inspirational · motivational · reassuring · emboldening · persuasive
cautionaryemboldening
Making more courageous
reckless · heedless · incautious · foolhardy · devil-may-care
- cautionary taleStory illustrating consequences