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

Young readers who watched Wuthering Heights earlier this year and thought Margot Robbie’s bratty, lovestruck Cathy had to be the most difficult Cathy in literature are in for a rude awakening this fall. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026

Residents on the upper floors on the opposite side of a building got a rude awakening as well. — Kris Habermehl, CBS News, 26 June 2026

These poor Dutch and Japanese fans are about to get a rude awakening on North Texas traffic control. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2026

This guy, Bryce Mills, has a rude awakening. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Rhymes for rude awakening

• reawakening
• wakening