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
Folks who have gotten used to one of the warmest Februarys on record were in for a rude awakening Friday morning as a cold front ushered in much colder weather overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
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Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Anyone hoping for an extended romantic getaway was in for a rude awakening when the fall 2026 calendar officially dropped.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Local politicians who were hoping to get a quick pay raise this year may be in for a rude awakening.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
The residents of a home in southeast Denver had a rude awakening Sunday morning when a car crashed through their fireplace.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
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Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Anyone hoping for an extended romantic getaway was in for a rude awakening when the fall 2026 calendar officially dropped.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Local politicians who were hoping to get a quick pay raise this year may be in for a rude awakening.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
The residents of a home in southeast Denver had a rude awakening Sunday morning when a car crashed through their fireplace.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Dec. 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 25 Feb. 2026.
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