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
Companies are expecting many impacts, from price increases to consumer wariness, and orders of big-ticket items have surged on the expectation of sticker shock.
—
Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
But the formal protests against the Brandon Shores reprieve largely center on its potential sticker shock to consumers.
—Jeremy Cox, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025
The Italian luxury brand is relying on company messaging to assuage the potential for sticker shock and to recommit customers to the brand.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
While a deal with China may be on ice for the near-term, leaving many retailers exposed to tariff impacts and shoppers subject to sticker shock at retail, the U.S. is inching closer to deals with India and Japan, the White House indicated this week.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sticker shock
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Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
But the formal protests against the Brandon Shores reprieve largely center on its potential sticker shock to consumers.
—Jeremy Cox, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025
The Italian luxury brand is relying on company messaging to assuage the potential for sticker shock and to recommit customers to the brand.
—Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
While a deal with China may be on ice for the near-term, leaving many retailers exposed to tariff impacts and shoppers subject to sticker shock at retail, the U.S. is inching closer to deals with India and Japan, the White House indicated this week.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 22 Apr. 2025
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 3 May. 2025.
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