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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles said on X (formerly Twitter) that Los Angeles, Glendale and Santa Clarita are under a flash flood warning until 8 p.m. PT.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The warning was issued Thursday at 9:15 p.m., and the latest update about this incident was released on Thursday at 9:26 p.m.
    Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Demko is one of the most talented goalies in the NHL and has a higher ceiling than Lankinen, but the former’s durability is a huge red flag at this point.
    Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Later on, a smaller rain cell passed over the track, causing another red flag before racing resumed again.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • This portable skincare wand is compact enough to take with you and use on the go, enhancing the skin with red light therapy, galvanic currents, facial massage, and therapeutic warmth.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Wim Hof breathing, cold plunging, sauna, red light therapy supplementation.
    Janelle Ash, Fox News, 30 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The cost of winning Bregman is the clearest sign thus far that the Red Sox are completing a circle of their own, getting back to being the type of franchise that prioritizes winning.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Researchers see the trend as a sign of financial instability among older Americans.
    Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near wake-up call

Cite this Entry

“Wake-up call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wake-up%20call. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

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