Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Cautionary
adjective
/ KAW-shuh-ner-ee /
Easy
Meaning
Serving as a warning, or intended to advise care and prudence.
Origin / Etymology
Latin cautio (caution, heedfulness), from cavere (to take heed)
Synonyms
Admonitory
Warning
Advisory
Antonyms
Reassuring
Encouraging
Heedless
Example Sentence
"The 1975 Emergency remains a cautionary tale about the fragility of democratic institutions under executive overreach."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Strong in Essay and GS answers when invoking a historical episode or trend as a warning for the present.
Relevant Subjects
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