wake-up call

as in warning
something that tells of approaching danger or risk his high blood pressure was a wake-up call that he needed to do something about his health

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wake-up call The persistence of that finding should be a wake-up call for employers already battling high turnover and labor shortages. Wire Services, Dallas News, 22 Mar. 2023 Those efforts show the pandemic has been a wake-up call, Horowitz said. Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2023 Texas is on an entirely different level than those teams and had a bit of a wake-up call against Penn State. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 20 Mar. 2023 Most important, the Fed and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) got a wake-up call that their oversight of middle-size banks has been dangerously lax. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for wake-up call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wake-up call
Noun
  • The orders were later reduced to warnings, and the last of the warnings was lifted about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
  • If passed into law, the bill would require warnings on the ATMs before the user could do a transaction.
    Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • If a company says your package is stuck in customs or asks for additional payment due to tariffs, that’s a major red flag.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • Everything the Phillies measure with their pitchers to catch potential red flags has not indicated any physical issues.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Your skin may be sensitive after red light exposure.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 3 June 2025
  • Florida has been on fire on the road, averaging 4.75 red lights 🚨 per game away from home, the fifth-highest mark in NHL history.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • To some, the shift may vindicate Trump's America First strategy — a sign that pressuring allies to increase defense spending is working.
    Scott Neuman, NPR, 4 June 2025
  • Fans lined up early and made signs to catch a glimpse of the future star.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wake-up call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wake-up%20call. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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