warning
Advance threat notice
Warning is notice of potential danger, trouble, or unpleasantness ahead.
A warning can be formal—a weather warning, a warning label—or informal: I'm giving you fair warning, the food is terrible.
It can also be a cautionary sign: Her silence was a warning.
To warn is to give such notice; as an adjective, warning describes the signal itself: a warning shot, a warning light.
Warning or watchfulness
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- sirenWailing alert device
- beaconGuiding light source
- flareSudden bright burst
horn · bell · buzzer · whistle · flash · indicator · sign · symbol
Mild verbal correction
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- reproofExpression of blame
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- chastisementFormal scolding or correction
censure · reproach · talking-to · dressing-down · caution · citation · penalty · yellow card
Notice recommending action
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- disclaimerStatement denying responsibility
- caveatWarning or qualification
- noticeBecome aware of
label · safety · hazard sign · danger sign · heads-up · guidance · instruction · directive
Sign of future calamity
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- presageIndicate beforehand
foreshadowing · augury · prophecy · bad sign · ill omen · handwriting on the wall · dark cloud · prediction
Sign revealing status
- precursorSomething that comes first
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- telltaleRevealing indicator
- red flagIndicator of danger
clue · hint · evidence · manifestation · onset · prodrome · canary in the coal mine
Source of potential harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatIndication of potential harm
hostile · aggression · confrontation · standoff · deterrent · retaliation · provocation · escalation
alert
Warning or watchfulness
flare · horn · bell · buzzer · whistle · flash · indicator · sign · symbol · light
admonition
Mild verbal correction
chastisement · censure · reproach · talking-to · dressing-down · caution · citation · penalty · yellow card · infraction
advisory
Notice recommending action
- precautionPreventive safety measure
- disclaimerStatement denying responsibility
- caveatWarning or qualification
notice · label · safety · hazard sign · danger sign · heads-up · guidance · instruction · directive · recommendation
portent
Sign of future calamity
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
presage · foreshadowing · augury · prophecy · bad sign · ill omen · handwriting on the wall · dark cloud · prediction · auspice
indicator
Sign revealing status
red flag · clue · hint · evidence · manifestation · onset · prodrome · canary in the coal mine
menace
Source of potential harm
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- ultimatumNon-negotiable final terms
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
threat · hostile · aggression · confrontation · standoff · deterrent · retaliation · provocation · escalation · posturing
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- safety phrasessafe, danger, caution, careful, watch out
- emergency responsefirst responders, emergency services, fire alarm, 911, call 911
- safetysafety helmet, hazard, airbag, alert, occupational safety
- Alarm Expressionshelp, mayday, SOS, oh no, watch out
warningall-clear
Signal danger has passed
reassurance · green light · clearance · safe signal · bright
warningall-clear
Signal danger has passed
encouragement · invitation · welcome · green light · go-ahead
warningapproval
Favorable opinion given
endorsement · sanction · blessing · confirmation · commendation
- without warningUnexpectedly, lacking prior notice
- warning signsIndicators of impending danger
- fair warningReasonable advance notice
- warning lightsIlluminated hazard indicators
- final warningLast notice before action
- warning shotIntentionally missed shot conveying threat
warnings, forewarning, warningly, forewarnings, warning sign, prewarning, warning signs, warning bell, warning shot