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.
"Consumers aren't only facing sticker shock at the pump, but also with their utility bills, as electricity prices rose sharply last month," he said.
From Barron's • May 12, 2026
When gas prices surged in March, lower-income drivers tried to cut back, but they still felt the sticker shock.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
The finances of larger companies are also suffering, while passengers face sticker shock from costs to travel.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
Here are the top sources of air-travel sticker shock:
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Without an end to high oil prices or some help from the government, customers can expect the same sticker shock the trucking industry is struggling with.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
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.
