make an example of verb1 •To punish someone so as to give a warning to others; sometimes, to overpunish them for added deterrence.He made an example of the drunken sailor with twenty lashes, to show that he must have a sober crew.Most people got away with Napster piracy, but a few people were sued for gigantic sums because copyright holders intended to make an example of them. formsmade an example of · making an example of · makes an example of
