future shock

noun

: the physical and psychological distress suffered by one who is unable to cope with the rapidity of social and technological changes

Examples of future shock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Beijing is also continuing its push to insulate itself from future shocks – including in its upcoming five-year plan, which aims to deepen a top-down drive for tech and industrial self-sufficiency. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025 Finally, to cushion against future shocks, policymakers will need to create and expand emergency stockpiles, such as for certain critical minerals and natural gas, along the lines of what the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve has done for oil. Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025 Beyond the short term, effective relief preserves societal stability, fosters recovery, and lays the foundation for resilience against future shocks. Trickleup, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Other young investors are making moves to insulate against future shocks. Alexander Nazaryan, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025 The result is a win-win: a resilient supply chain that can withstand future shocks and a healthier planet. Azra Nurkic, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of future shock was in 1965

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Cite this Entry

“Future shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/future%20shock. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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