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 dearth of cocoa, analysts said, has ratcheted up input costs for chocolate makers and vaulted retail prices, leading to sticker shock in grocery and candy store aisles. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026

The weather in the Pittsburgh area, combined with all the time spent at home, and your first bills of the year could be a bit of sticker shock. —John Shumway, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026

Why winter sticker shock feels worse The latest cold snap is exposing how vulnerable household budgets have become to weather swings. —Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026

Routine maintenance and upgrades to the grid were already causing households nationwide to experience sticker shock on their monthly bills. —Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sticker shock

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