Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for wake-up call. Search instead for Wake-up-early.
Definitions

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.

“This should represent a wake-up call for the investment trust sector and its regulators,” Simpson-Dent added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

But other countries see the war as a wake-up call.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The lawyer said he hoped the massive verdict would serve as a wake-up call for the department and the city as more lawsuits pile up over less-lethal weapons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, an organisation that provides scholarships to undocumented immigrants, told the BBC that the case should serve as a "wake-up call."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

The more I thought about it, the more I was sure that Fig had slept all day, except for the 5:42 a.m. wake-up call.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas