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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.

Megan Thee Stallion addressed the health scare on Instagram, calling it a “real wake-up call for me.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“The fact that non-fuel import prices increased so much is a wake-up call for policymakers and will keep the Federal Reserve in pause for longer than expected,” said Eugenio Aleman, chief economist at Raymond James.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Unilever’s wake-up call came in 2017 with an unsolicited takeover approach from Kraft Heinz, then lauded for its skill in cutting costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Dovile Sakaliene, the former Defence Minister in Vilnius, remembers thinking the parcel plot was a wake-up call for Lithuania's allies.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

A rooster crowed his wake-up call into the clear air.

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.