warning 1 of 3

noun

ˈwȯr-niŋ How to pronounce warning (audio)
Definition of warningnext
1
as in caution
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk she delivered a strict warning that anyone who was caught stealing would be fired

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in sign
something that tells of approaching danger or risk the ominously darkening sky was a warning that a tornado was approaching

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

warning

2 of 3

adjective

as in cautionary
serving as or offering a warning usually gave her trademark warning look when the children were getting out of hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

warning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of warn
as in alerting
to give notice to beforehand especially of danger or risk the lifeguard warned the boys that if they continued playing so rough, someone was sure to get hurt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of warning
Noun
The National Weather Service issued warnings about the air quality across the northwest. — John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 Rain is in the forecast throughout the day today, including flash flooding risks, a morning flood warning and a flood watch that will continue throughout the day. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
The bureau also will post more warning notices at 750 livestock sale facilities and review other potential changes to federal regulations. — Scott Sonner, Star Tribune, 27 July 2021 In response, statistical authorities around the world could do little but issue warning press releases. — Andrew Whitby, Time, 17 Apr. 2020
Verb
But by the afternoon, Jaime was receiving text messages warning that her neighborhood of Five Mile Prairie was under evacuation orders as wildfires tore through Spokane County. — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2026 On Sunday, the United Kingdom's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued heat health alerts for eight regions of England for the first half of the week, warning that rising temperatures may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups. — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for warning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for warning
  1. caution
  2. sign
  3. cautionary
  4. alerting
  5. forewarning
  6. red flag
  7. admonitory
  8. advising
Noun
  • Hunt said the new regulations are a step in the right direction but urged caution.
    — Laurie Udesky, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • Out of an abundance of caution, a new editor was assigned to the article, and new reviewers were selected while the investigation continued.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
Definition of caution
Noun
  • In an independent third-party clinical study of 33 participants, 100 percent showed improvement across seven key signs of lip aging after just one use, while 96 percent demonstrated enhanced lip volume after four weeks.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Video from his dash camera shows the aircraft gliding under a highway sign, missing it by mere feet, before touching down in the empty lanes.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of sign
Adjective
  • Football is full of cautionary tales (and, for the sake of balance, morally-dubious fairy tales) about the risks and rewards of taking on finance adjacent to or entangled with politics.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • Japanese officials bristle at the notion that their economy is viewed globally as a cautionary tale rather than a competitive force.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of cautionary
Verb
  • Recent history suggests that the only effective counter to such meddling is a public statement alerting voters to the deception, by some credibly neutral, nonpartisan authority.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Lora praised the couple for alerting authorities, saying their quick response may have prevented the body from being carried farther downstream by the river’s strong current.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of alerting
Noun
  • That forewarning came to pass, with the Galaxy S26 launching at a higher price than its predecessor in select markets.
    — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2026
  • More than a forewarning, the project is an open invitation into the Texan’s sonic world, drawing on elements from an array of genres.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of forewarning
Noun
  • Hints of trouble began even before the prenuptial agreement was proposed, but certainly James’ last-minute change in the draft prenup was a huge red flag.
    — Margery A. Greenberg, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • One error in a client deck sends up a red flag and can change the way work is perceived instantly.
    — Julien Villemonteix, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of red flag
Adjective
  • And while the formal rules on travel have relaxed, the admonitory official language is unchanged.
    — John Liu, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Satire has always had an admonitory function, and besides, some people are so obnoxious that a writer has to slow-walk the reader through their awfulness.
    — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 11 May 2022
Definition of admonitory
Verb
  • Last week, authorities ordered the evacuation of almost 60,000 people near the city of Bordeaux, whose vineyards produce approximately 700 million bottles of wine per year, according to investment advising firm Vineyards Bordeaux.
    — Martina Di Licosa, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Minnesota's own billing guidance acknowledges this directly, advising providers to verify billing details with each MCO individually.
    — Valerie Cerra, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of advising

Browse Nearby Words

warned
warning
warnings
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Cite this Entry

“Warning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/warning. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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