cautionary

This term describes something intended to warn others by illustrating the negative consequences of a specific action. It is most frequently paired with nouns like tale, story, or example, creating a narrative framework where a past failure serves as a lesson for future behavior. While it shares a root with caution, the adjective form specifically implies a pedagogical or preventative purpose. It is typically used in formal or literary contexts to describe a moralizing narrative rather than a simple immediate warning.