as in shocks
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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Recent Examples of eye-openers
Beringer noted the speed and physicality of Minnesota’s preseason games have been eye-openers.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2025
But under the hood, there are some other eye-openers.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2025
But under the hood, there are some other eye-openers.
—Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eye-openers
Noun
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Kika is no victim, but a woman perpetually absorbing shocks, assessing those shocks, and recalibrating heroically.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
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Both leaders signaled interest in reducing tensions to avoid further shocks to the global economy.—
Landon Mion , Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Expect conversations that catch you off-guard, and jokes that turn into shocking revelations.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Recent revelations about past text messages sent by Jones have seemingly shifted public opinion and put the race’s outcome in question, signaling larger concerns of accountability and conduct among political leaders.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Several late-breaking surprises have shaken up what political watchers thought would be a quiet race in Virginia.—
Jahd Khalil,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
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Laden with symbolism both in its lyrics and accompanying video, the piece — structured in operatic movements —surprises with Rosalía’s lyrical performance, gliding seamlessly between English, German, and her native Spanish.—
Luisa Calle,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From fall fragrances like apple cider and more neutral scents like green tea to jolts of refreshing grapefruit, a single scented candle can really set the mood in any space.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Conjuring 2 is filled with sudden jolts, dog bells signaling danger, self-moving fire engine toys, and the infamous Crooked Man — all shot with cinematic tricks borrowed from '70s-era filmmaking.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Eye-openers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eye-openers. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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