as in warning
something that tells of approaching danger or risk
his high blood pressure was a wake-up call that he needed to do something about his health
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Recent Examples of wake-up call
The persistence of that finding should be a wake-up call for employers already battling high turnover and labor shortages.
—
Wire Services, Dallas News, 22 Mar. 2023
Those efforts show the pandemic has been a wake-up call, Horowitz said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2023
Texas is on an entirely different level than those teams and had a bit of a wake-up call against Penn State.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2023
Most important, the Fed and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) got a wake-up call that their oversight of middle-size banks has been dangerously lax.
—Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for wake-up call
Wire Services, Dallas News, 22 Mar. 2023
Those efforts show the pandemic has been a wake-up call, Horowitz said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2023
Texas is on an entirely different level than those teams and had a bit of a wake-up call against Penn State.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2023
Most important, the Fed and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) got a wake-up call that their oversight of middle-size banks has been dangerously lax.
—Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for wake-up call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wake-up call
Noun
-
Iran, meanwhile, is issuing stark warnings.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High wind warning.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gusty winds up to 40 mph and single-digit humidity are forecast for Monday, according to red flag warnings issued by the weather service.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
But Don always saw the red flags.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This powerful skin care device combines red light therapy, galvanic current, facial massage and therapeutic warmth to treat various skin concerns, including fine lines, puffiness and dark circles.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Cars waiting behind red lights could be heard honking at pedestrians in support.—
Alex Gladden,
Oklahoman,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Dozens showed up to the Capitol on Tuesday, where advocates made speeches and attendees held signs and flags.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Dozens flocked to City Hall, wielding signs and voicing pleas for Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Sacramento City Manager Maraskeshia Smith and other council members to halt construction.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wake-up call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wake-up%20call. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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