eye-opener

noun

Definition of eye-openernext
as in shock
informal something that shows or teaches you something in a surprising way Traveling abroad can be a real eye-opener to many people. They say her biography is quite an eye-opener.

Related Words

Relevance

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 eye-opener Small temperature shifts tied to her hormonal cycle were also a factor, which was an important eye-opener and was the most consequential factor in connecting the dots. — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026 My shore excursion in Cartagena was an eye-opener. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026 Even with this pedigree, the Premier League has been an eye-opener. — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026 And while nobody specifically mentioned parking prices at Clippers home games, that $70 charge for the garage across the street from the Intuit Dome is an eye-opener. — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for eye-opener
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eye-opener
  1. shock
  2. surprise
  3. revelation
  4. shocker
  5. jolt
Noun
  • But there are key things that are going to put upward pressure on inflation, besides tariffs and the oil price shock and the commodities supply chain shock that is flowing through now.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Breman noted that price shocks stemming from the Middle East conflict have not fully dissipated.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • Imagine Bret’s surprise to find Robert waiting for him on his bed, having been questioned again thanks to Bret’s accusations.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Corle, taken completely by surprise, was sideswiped by the massive bear and sent tumbling face first into a thick clump of brush.
    — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of surprise
Noun
  • The revelation of the changes comes amid intense competition in the AI industry, as companies release updates to their large language models at a frenetic pace, each seeking to pull ahead of the other.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
  • There is still a strong chance the fight ends up at Madison Square Garden in New York City, as nothing has yet been agreed to switch to London, but Hearn’s revelation has seemingly brought the English capital back to the table.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of revelation
Noun
  • On the 584th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including an MLB shocker.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Physical camp, but no fights In something of a shocker, despite a couple of big hits — one by the Panthers’ Feleipe Franks on kickoff coverage — and pushing matches, nothing escalated into a fight.
    — Joseph Person, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of shocker
Noun
  • Kroenke’s history of developing winning teams delivered a jolt of enthusiasm to the Angels’ clubhouse even though the sale won’t close until next year.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no better way to add a jolt of prestige to an aspiring Oscar vehicle than the sight of its stars, bedecked in all their finery, arriving on the Lido by water taxi in the manner of conquering heroes.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of jolt

Browse Nearby Words

eyeless
eye-opener
eye-openers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Eye-opener.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eye-opener. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All