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
The Nintendo Switch 2’s price will bring sticker shock to fans.
—
Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
Hiking prices without the sticker shock Instead, Apple could pin any price increases on other factors, such as new AI features or hardware.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
As consumers brace for sticker shock, tech companies' revenues could be hit hard if sales significantly decrease.
—Ashley Belanger – May 7, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
Hiking prices without the sticker shock Instead, Apple could pin any price increases on other factors, such as new AI features or hardware.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
As consumers brace for sticker shock, tech companies' revenues could be hit hard if sales significantly decrease.
—Ashley Belanger – May 7, ArsTechnica, 7 May 2025
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
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 4 Jul. 2025.
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