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
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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
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Fans lined up early and made signs to catch a glimpse of the future star.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2025
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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