sticker shock
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of sticker shock
sticker ( price ) + shock
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sticker shock is part of the nuclear tradition.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
Sticker shock is hitting car buyers as the U.S. broadly faces what many consider to be a growing affordability crisis.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025
Sticker shock: These pants are $20,000 — and secondhand.
From New York Times • Mar. 27, 2023
Adding up: Sticker shock for Jewish parents in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2017
Sticker shock: Brent grew up in Chevy Chase.
From Washington Post • Mar. 3, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
