rude awakening
noun
: surprising and unpleasant discovery that one is mistaken
He thinks he can get by without doing any work, but he is in for a rude awakening.
Examples of rude awakening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But the coaches Ferguson thought would stay on to provide continuity — Mike Phelan, Rene Meulensteen, and Eric Steele — left when Moyes wanted to go his own way, and the scale of the club was a rude awakening for the new boss on the club’s pre-season tour of Australia.
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Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Based on the Season 4 premiere, the town’s residents, who yearn to escape, are now in for a rude awakening.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Folks who have gotten used to one of the warmest Februarys on record were in for a rude awakening Friday morning as a cold front ushered in much colder weather overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Anyone hoping for an extended romantic getaway was in for a rude awakening when the fall 2026 calendar officially dropped.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
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Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Based on the Season 4 premiere, the town’s residents, who yearn to escape, are now in for a rude awakening.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Folks who have gotten used to one of the warmest Februarys on record were in for a rude awakening Friday morning as a cold front ushered in much colder weather overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Anyone hoping for an extended romantic getaway was in for a rude awakening when the fall 2026 calendar officially dropped.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
Cite this Entry
“Rude awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rude%20awakening. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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