wake-up call

NOUN

cautionary tale

Synonyms

WEAK

a few words of wisdom admonition advisory caution light caveat deterrent example enough said event illustrating a hazard forewarning hint lesson message moral omen portent red flag sign of things to come warning word to the wise

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.

It also came as a wake-up call for the Haftars to turn the city into a showcase reconstruction project.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

"That feeling of being last is horrible, and I think it was like a wake-up call."

From BBC • May 21, 2026

But I’d encourage you to use this discovery as motivation — a wake-up call that jolts you into action.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

For private-equity investors, however, the actions in Oregon and California are a wake-up call, showing that the new laws can’t be ignored, said John Saran, a partner at law firm Holland & Knight.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

“This is a wake-up call for me,” Dad says.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

wake-up call

Example Sentences

Related Words