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

But the outcry over 2026 ticket costs isn’t just about sticker shock, according to economists and tourism experts. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026

Flowers Often Cost More Than Couples Expect One of the biggest surprises for couples is pricing, so prepare for a little sticker shock. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026

Amazon’s decision to scrap its AI leaderboard after tokenmaxxing rapidly drove up costs is the most recent case of sticker shock hitting companies trying to implement AI. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 29 May 2026

Seventy-six percent of respondents cited gas and fuel while 46% said rising utility costs sparked the most sticker shock. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 28 May 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