aftershock

noun

af·​ter·​shock ˈaf-tər-ˌshäk 

1

: an aftereffect of a distressing or traumatic event

The team is still dealing with the aftershock of losing their best player.

2

: a minor shock following the main shock of an earthquake

Examples of aftershock in a Sentence

The first aftershock came just minutes after the earthquake.

Recent Examples on the Web

The aftershocks will transform Boq (Ethan Slater) and Fiyero forever, and threaten the safety of Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025

When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. —William B. Davis, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2025

Schumer drew the ire of progressives by not endorsing Mamdani’s campaign — a decision that has aftershocks from the 2024 race as debates continue on about the need for new blood in the party. —Al Weaver, The Hill, 15 Nov. 2025

Seismologists described the event as a main shock in a broader sequence, warning that such occurrences can result in prolonged aftershock activity regionally. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

after- + shock entry 1

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aftershock

• antiknock
• arawak
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock