reality check
noun
: something that clarifies or serves as a reminder of reality often by correcting a misconception
Examples of reality check in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is the guy who spent the offseason getting a brutal, clear-eyed reality check.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Sunrise, however, brought a new week and a sober Monday morning reality check about what the first 45-plus minutes looked like for Denver’s offense.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
This was just a nice comeuppance for a person who needs a little reality check.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
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Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Sunrise, however, brought a new week and a sober Monday morning reality check about what the first 45-plus minutes looked like for Denver’s offense.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
This was just a nice comeuppance for a person who needs a little reality check.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Such work would be an important reality check as society grapples with this kind of emerging threat from AI, says Casadevall, but would be tricky to do, as it might be precluded by international treaties prohibiting the development of biological weapons.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reality check
Cite this Entry
“Reality check.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reality%20check. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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