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
The optimism about Frank’s project is quickly draining away, perhaps slightly unfairly, but this was a shocking performance and a brutal reality check.
—
Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Risks and reality checks The rally in South Korean stocks is not without risks.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
In the first two episodes of Dispatch, AdHoc Studio’s new playable TV show, the protagonist Robert Robertson (Aaron Paul) gets a similar reality check.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
This is the guy who spent the offseason getting a brutal, clear-eyed reality check.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reality check
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Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Risks and reality checks The rally in South Korean stocks is not without risks.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
In the first two episodes of Dispatch, AdHoc Studio’s new playable TV show, the protagonist Robert Robertson (Aaron Paul) gets a similar reality check.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
This is the guy who spent the offseason getting a brutal, clear-eyed reality check.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 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 7 Nov. 2025.
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