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
In response, restaurant chains like Ohio's City Barbeque have started prioritizing other meats, including chicken and pork, amid fears of customer sticker shock, according to the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The moves come at a delicate moment for the auto industry as consumers are enduring sticker shock.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
The moves come at a delicate moment for the auto industry as consumers are enduring sticker shock.
—Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Airport concessions have long been subject to sticker shock, so the newest fees are an extension of that.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The moves come at a delicate moment for the auto industry as consumers are enduring sticker shock.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
The moves come at a delicate moment for the auto industry as consumers are enduring sticker shock.
—Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Airport concessions have long been subject to sticker shock, so the newest fees are an extension of that.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 10 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2025.
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