rude awakening
noun
: surprising and unpleasant discovery that one is mistaken
He thinks he can get by without doing any work, but he is in for a rude awakening.
Examples of rude awakening in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One spring morning last year, New Mexico writer Zach Hively had a rude awakening.
—
Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Dimitrios Kambouris - Getty Images for TIME Microsoft made sure his three children grew up
more than $100 billion
having wealthy parents
rude awakening for him
CNBC Make Itpeople would want correct information
Bill Gates is famously
start-up Phia
Explore this year's list.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2025
Comcast subscribers who are Cubs and Yankees fans may soon be in for a rude awakening.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
Courtesy of Belinda Fewings/Unsplash Travelers scheduled to fly into, out of, or connect through London’s normally bustling Heathrow Airport (LHR) on Friday, March 21, were in for a rude awakening.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Dimitrios Kambouris - Getty Images for TIME Microsoft made sure his three children grew up
more than $100 billion
having wealthy parents
rude awakening for him
CNBC Make Itpeople would want correct information
Bill Gates is famously
start-up Phia
Explore this year's list.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2025
Comcast subscribers who are Cubs and Yankees fans may soon be in for a rude awakening.
—Alex Sherman, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
Courtesy of Belinda Fewings/Unsplash Travelers scheduled to fly into, out of, or connect through London’s normally bustling Heathrow Airport (LHR) on Friday, March 21, were in for a rude awakening.
—Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rude awakening
Cite this Entry
“Rude awakening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rude%20awakening. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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