sticker shock
noun
: astonishment and dismay experienced on being informed of a product's unexpectedly high price
Examples of sticker shock in a Sentence
We left the store suffering severe sticker shock.
Recent Examples on the Web
The number could carry some sticker shock because of the rising cap, but Edvinsson is already a good top-pair defenseman who is only getting better.
—
Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Electric vehicles don’t require routine oil changes, which at $100 or more elicit their own sticker shock.
—Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
To that end, Servais feels a contemporary art price adjustment will meet the demands of a market that is still in sticker shock over ultra-contemporary artworks that auction for less than their primary market cost.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
At first, there was a sticker shock.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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Max Bultman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Electric vehicles don’t require routine oil changes, which at $100 or more elicit their own sticker shock.
—Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
To that end, Servais feels a contemporary art price adjustment will meet the demands of a market that is still in sticker shock over ultra-contemporary artworks that auction for less than their primary market cost.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
At first, there was a sticker shock.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
Cite this Entry
“Sticker shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sticker%20shock. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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