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

And shoppers may see more and more sticker shock trickle down to store shelves. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026

Ahead of Labor Day Weekend, retailers are marking down designer bags across the board, giving shoppers a timely opportunity to score investment-worthy styles without the usual sticker shock. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026

Many Floridians have been paying around the same price for gas throughout the summer, so there isn’t a lot of sticker shock heading into the holiday weekend. — Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Home seekers around Southern California were feeling profound sticker shock. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sticker shock

• aftershock
• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock