sticker shock
noun
: astonishment and dismay experienced on being informed of a product's unexpectedly high price
Examples of sticker shock in a Sentence
We left the store suffering severe sticker shock.
Recent Examples on the Web
Consumers are footing more and more of that bill as businesses pass higher costs to their shoppers, beyond the immediate sticker shock at the gas pump.
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ABC News, 11 May 2026
Shoppers may see more sticker shock for clothing, cosmetics, furniture and other goods.
—Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
But sharing that kind of sticker shock with an audience where plenty of people aren’t even spending $23,000 on their rent or mortgage for an entire year?
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Along with drivers, gas station owners are also feeling sticker shock.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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ABC News, 11 May 2026
Shoppers may see more sticker shock for clothing, cosmetics, furniture and other goods.
—Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
But sharing that kind of sticker shock with an audience where plenty of people aren’t even spending $23,000 on their rent or mortgage for an entire year?
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Along with drivers, gas station owners are also feeling sticker shock.
—Terell Bailey, CBS News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
Cite this Entry
“Sticker shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sticker%20shock. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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