eye-opener

Definition of eye-openernext
as in shock
informal something that shows or teaches you something in a surprising way Traveling abroad can be a real eye-opener to many people. They say her biography is quite an eye-opener.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of eye-opener Small temperature shifts tied to her hormonal cycle were also a factor, which was an important eye-opener and was the most consequential factor in connecting the dots. Allison Aubrey, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026 My shore excursion in Cartagena was an eye-opener. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026 Even with this pedigree, the Premier League has been an eye-opener. Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026 And while nobody specifically mentioned parking prices at Clippers home games, that $70 charge for the garage across the street from the Intuit Dome is an eye-opener. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eye-opener
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eye-opener
Noun
  • That said, France were favourites in the last final and Argentina beat them, albeit by the finest of margins, recovering from the shock of Kylian Mbappe’s hat-trick before holding their nerve to win the penalty shootout.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • My work became not just watching the Zeitgeist within the company but learning how to contain it—reading through messages, distilling the emotional temperature, and crafting executive responses meant to absorb shock and restore calm.
    Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Iron Mountain, a new data center under construction in the predominantly Black neighborhood of Westview, took residents by surprise.
    Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • However, Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, argues that California’s beach access laws and tradition are well established and should have come as no surprise to someone capable of purchasing 53 acres of prime shoreline.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • These revelations came to light Thursday as the FDRA held its annual meeting in Washington.
    Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 17 July 2026
  • Dozens were then investigated or placed on leave following the revelations.
    Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, in an even more historic shocker, The Amazing Race was snubbed for the first time in the 23-year history of this category.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 July 2026
  • Luckily, this deal squashes that qualm by knocking over $300 from the sticker shocker!
    Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Additional jolts of sophistication come courtesy of a custom Area Environments wall covering, a gold mirror from Made Goods, Jiun Ho sconces, and German photographer Ellen von Unwerth’s black and white snapshot of a carefree Naomi Campbell.
    Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 13 July 2026
  • Part of what’s at work is a reasonable desire to give a party with more than its share of grizzled congressional veterans a jolt of youthful energy.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Eye-opener.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eye-opener. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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