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
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Anybody who thought the Detroit Lions would come into the season with new coordinators on both sides of the ball and keep humming along was in for a rude awakening.
—
Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Former Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich has had a rude awakening thus far following his migration to the ACC.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Buyers expecting complete privacy can get a rude awakening.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
This isn't necessarily a problem yet, but after a couple of years of being able to rely on Nick Folk and Ryan Stonehouse as stalwarts, the Titans could have a rude awakening.
—Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
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Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Former Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich has had a rude awakening thus far following his migration to the ACC.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Buyers expecting complete privacy can get a rude awakening.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025
This isn't necessarily a problem yet, but after a couple of years of being able to rely on Nick Folk and Ryan Stonehouse as stalwarts, the Titans could have a rude awakening.
—Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 18 Aug. 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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