Object Lesson (Noun)
Meaning
Punishment intended as a warning to others; "they decided to make an example of him".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The court's harsh sentence was intended to serve as an object lesson to deter others from committing similar crimes.
- The public flogging was meant to be an object lesson to anyone who dared to disobey the king's laws.
- The company's decision to fire the employee for misconduct was meant to be an object lesson to the rest of the staff.
- The brutal suppression of the rebellion was intended to be an object lesson to any other would-be insurgents.
- The severe punishment meted out to the convicted felon was meant to be an object lesson to others who might be tempted to follow in his footsteps.