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.

Tank bottoms at Cushing would be a wake-up call that inventories are dangerously low.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

Figures that show the estimated cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland rose to £2.2m in 2025 should "serve as a serious wake-up call" for farmers, their union has said.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

Beijing’s ability to leverage its rare-earth-magnet dominance in trade negotiations was the latest wake-up call, as those inputs are used in everything from weapons systems to electric-vehicle motors.

From Barron's • May 26, 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

“I guess once in a while we all need a wake-up call from somebody who loves us.”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

wake-up call

Example Sentences

Related Words