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
Some House Republican leaders fear that would give fiscal conservatives in their conference sticker shock.
—
Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024
Meet Meredith Hayden: the TikToker Who Spends $2,000 on Groceries as a Private Chef in the Hamptons
And the sticker shock is big, with an International Delight coffee creamer costing $7.49, and a 1 kg. jar of Nutella coming in at $48.95.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
The biggest bummer: The $375 price tag is certainly worthy of sticker shock.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 20 Nov. 2024
For consumers, tariffs could contribute to more sticker shock on a wide variety of purchases — from car repairs to toys — just as inflation cools.
—Melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sticker shock 
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Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024
Meet Meredith Hayden: the TikToker Who Spends $2,000 on Groceries as a Private Chef in the Hamptons
And the sticker shock is big, with an International Delight coffee creamer costing $7.49, and a 1 kg. jar of Nutella coming in at $48.95.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
The biggest bummer: The $375 price tag is certainly worthy of sticker shock.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 20 Nov. 2024
For consumers, tariffs could contribute to more sticker shock on a wide variety of purchases — from car repairs to toys — just as inflation cools.
—Melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sticker shock
Dictionary Entries Near sticker shock
Cite this Entry
“Sticker shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sticker%20shock. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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