wake-up call

Definition of wake-up callnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wake-up call
Noun
  • San Joaquin County officials have confirmed the first detection of West Nile virus this season, sparking warnings for residents to protect themselves and prepare their homes.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 23 June 2026
  • The only public indication of an impending launch was the release of a warning for pilots and sailors to steer clear of the rocket’s flight path.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • This was the white, blue, and red flag adopted by Tsar Peter the Great and used by Russia today.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • The nine-car incident caused a nine-minute red flag for wall repairs.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Police said there were no signs of trauma or foul play and homicide detectives are investigating.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026
  • By the end of the meeting, however, signs of a compromise had emerged.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wake-up call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wake-up%20call. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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