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Synonyms

eye-opener

British  

noun

  1. something startling or revealing

  2. an alcoholic drink taken early in the morning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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But the even bigger eye-opener was that the segment’s profitability is increasing, even as it quickly scales.

From Barron's May 1, 2026

Seeing the stark reality of Diaz's plight on screen is quite an eye-opener.

From BBC Mar. 27, 2026

“When those guys initially slided, it was an eye-opener for the rest of the world, that a Caribbean nation could actually compete. They inspired us.”

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 14, 2026

Sending in the Marines certainly was an eye-opener.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 12, 2025

“I read your book years ago. The Mating Habits of the Common Draccus. Quite the eye-opener for a young man with his head full of stories.”

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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