rude awakening
noun
: surprising and unpleasant discovery that one is mistaken
He thinks he can get by without doing any work, but he is in for a rude awakening.
Examples of rude awakening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Today’s Gemini full moon delivers an attitude adjustment – or a rude awakening!
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
In 2024, in the final weeks of the Biden administration, Coplan got a rude awakening at home from the FBI.
—Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
Abdul Carter received a rude awakening Sunday when the New York Giants sidelined him for their first defensive series against the Green Bay Packers.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Indeed, American businesses banking on a generation of limited climate regulation could be up for a rude awakening come 2028—not too far away for companies who plan investments on long time horizons.
—Justin Worland, Time, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Usa Today, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
In 2024, in the final weeks of the Biden administration, Coplan got a rude awakening at home from the FBI.
—Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025
Abdul Carter received a rude awakening Sunday when the New York Giants sidelined him for their first defensive series against the Green Bay Packers.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Advertisement Indeed, American businesses banking on a generation of limited climate regulation could be up for a rude awakening come 2028—not too far away for companies who plan investments on long time horizons.
—Justin Worland, Time, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
Cite this Entry
“Rude awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rude%20awakening. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share