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 As rough as parts of their hometown were, Detroit was an eye-opener. John Carlisle, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025 The closeness in my race and the closeness in the president's race last year were real eye-openers. ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025 Beringer noted the speed and physicality of Minnesota’s preseason games have been eye-openers. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2025 Seeing Colin Blakely in Juno and the Paycock was a big eye-opener. Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eye-opener
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eye-opener
Noun
  • In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.
    Brett Kelman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Unlike past economic shocks to the system, such as the Great Recession or Covid, there will be fewer tools for the government to use to lessen the blow for businesses and consumers.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The surprise is that there’s an American city that has pursued a similar approach, and the greater surprise is that the city is Hoboken, New Jersey, better known as a post-industrial port and bedroom community across the Hudson River from Manhattan.
    Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • But Beren is definitely a surprise.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That revelation led Ellis to move his conviction be overturned, and in August 2021, a Nassau judge agreed, vacating the conviction and freeing him without bail.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The revelation also comes shortly before Congress is set to debate whether to reauthorize a surveillance law, and whether to close a legal loophole that allows the federal government to buy data about millions of Americans in bulk from commercial data brokers.
    Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Marin, a junior at Arkansas, becomes the third NCAA champion to win at the home of the Masters, following Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang, and this one featured a shocker on the back nine.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Three nights ago, the league-worst Vancouver Canucks stunned the Avs in a 8-6 shocker.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The exercise, much like a sprint, is meant to invigorate an artist's year with an intense jolt of art-making.
    Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The first jolt of excitement for the Golden State Warriors in far too long.
    Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 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 11 Apr. 2026.

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