cautionary

[ kaw-shuh-ner-ee ]

/ ˈkɔ ʃəˌnɛr i /

of the nature of or containing a warning: cautionary advice; a cautionary tale.

Origin of cautionary

First recorded in 1590–1600; caution + -ary

cauterant, cauterize, cautery, caution, caution money, cautionary, cautious, cauvery, cav, cav., cava

As an example of good science-and-society policymaking, the history of fluoride may be more of a cautionary tale.

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
Whilst Whitacre never defined himself as an “ally,” this remains a cautionary tale of what not to do.

Tech’s Male ‘Feminists’ Aren’t Helping |Cate Huston, Karen Catlin |December 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Gerald Ford and the swine flu pandemic that never happened in 1976 is a cautionary tale that government action can backfire.

How Presidents Handle Pandemics |Eleanor Clift |October 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Read a cautionary tale about the seductive and dangerous power of a charlatan sociopath, featuring goats and the American Dream.

The Strange, True Tale of the Old-Timey Goat Testicle-Implanting 'Governor' |Penny Lane |September 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The battle-scarred daytime TV vet agrees that Vieira could survive and even thrive, but offers a cautionary note.

Can Meredith Vieira Break the Daytime Curse? |Lloyd Grove |September 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Reverting for a moment to his former refuge, he observed a cautionary movement of her eyes towards the door.

Hard Times |Charles Dickens
Rarely do we find a cheerful tale such as “The Cherry Orchard” in this cautionary style of toy-book.

Forgotten Books of the American Nursery |Rosalie V. Halsey
And with the smile and the cautionary gesture of the true conspirator, he went away in the demi-light.

The Moonlit Way |Robert W. Chambers
He had raised his voice here, but was checked by the unflinching eye and cautionary gesture of the woman before him.

Gabriel Conroy |Bert Harte
Plodder's cautionary signal had been hoisted to some purpose after all.

Campaigning with Crook and Stories of Army Life |Charles King

cautionary

/ (ˈkɔːʃənərɪ) /

serving as a warning; intended to warn a cautionary tale