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
That simplifies the process for fans, but probably doesn’t alleviate the sticker shock.
—
Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Power bills are causing sticker shock in some corners of the nation, adding to lingering frustration over the cost of living.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
But there will likely be particular sticker shock in the Affordable Care Act markets.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Maybe the sticker shock is what killed that guy.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Power bills are causing sticker shock in some corners of the nation, adding to lingering frustration over the cost of living.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
But there will likely be particular sticker shock in the Affordable Care Act markets.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Maybe the sticker shock is what killed that guy.
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 1 Sep. 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 12 Sep. 2025.
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