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
Separate data from the Commerce Department out Friday showed that consumers slowed their spending sharply in April after going on a spending spree in the prior month to get ahead of any sticker shock due to tariffs.
—
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
As the cashier rang up his purchase, the sticker shock hit hard.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 13 Apr. 2025
Trump’s tariffs have prompted American companies and consumers to pull forward purchases to get ahead of any sticker shock stemming from the duties, which has sent imports surging.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
But even though the harm will be more concentrated on some groups, every working Californian and every industry will feel the pain of the gas price sticker shock.
—Ted Gaines, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
As the cashier rang up his purchase, the sticker shock hit hard.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 13 Apr. 2025
Trump’s tariffs have prompted American companies and consumers to pull forward purchases to get ahead of any sticker shock stemming from the duties, which has sent imports surging.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
But even though the harm will be more concentrated on some groups, every working Californian and every industry will feel the pain of the gas price sticker shock.
—Ted Gaines, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
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 17 Jun. 2025.
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