aftereffect

noun

ˈaf-tər-ə-ˌfekt How to pronounce aftereffect (audio)
Definition of aftereffectnext
as in outcome
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause in the U.S. slavery was abolished in 1865, but its aftereffects remained keenly felt long afterwards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 aftereffect Many of our heroic Vietnam War veterans have continued to suffer the aftereffects of exposure to Agent Orange during their service. — Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 Because there are no other nearby heat generators, that energy must be residual aftereffects of an earlier era. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026 But its costs and aftereffects will likely linger for years. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 17 June 2026 Like other music tours that year, Lilith Fair was the victim of aftereffects of the 2008 recession. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for aftereffect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aftereffect
  1. outcome
  2. result
  3. resultant
  4. consequence
  5. aftermath
  6. effect
Noun
  • Clark's defense came as Democrats faced accusations that the outcome might have been different had some of them not been held up while returning to the Capitol from an off-campus fundraiser.
    — Mariana Alfaro, Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Like other companies striving to move past experimentation toward practical solutions, the company is invested in how AI can be used to drive real business outcomes.
    — S. Sorrina Beecher, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • Initial results indicate that the method can separate metal chlorides from magnet material more efficiently, allowing nearly all the metals to be extracted while using comparatively small amounts of chemicals.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Grocery stores in several European countries are dealing with incidents affecting refrigerator and freezer systems that appear to be the results of cyberattacks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of result
Noun
  • If this second, less turbulent route occurs to bring hot Jupiters close to their stars, then the resultant system should be very flat.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Yet in 2017, the resultant phase of their coexistence, called supersolid, was experimentally observed in ultracold atomic Bose-Einstein condensates.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of resultant
Noun
  • The data — provided by Eric Eager, then with PFF — has proven extending a three-point lead to six points late in the fourth quarter has more consequences than advantages.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This is the extraordinary rise of one company that refused to play by the rules and set out on a path of ambition, risk and consequence.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of consequence
Noun
  • In the aftermath, Welch’s office in August announced the formation of a working group, made up of only Democratic House lawmakers, to address workplace culture issues, including exploring ways to protect legislative employees from harassment.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The series stars Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy as Samantha and Charlotte Quinn, sisters still living with the aftermath of a single event of violence during their childhood, with Brendan Gleeson as their father, Rusty.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of aftermath
Noun
  • Yamazaki has said his film is in part a response to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which didn’t show the effect of the atomic bomb on people.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Mountain lions in particular are suffering from the effects of inbreeding.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of effect

Browse Nearby Words

afterclaps
aftereffect
aftereffects
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aftereffect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aftereffect. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on aftereffect

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aftereffect

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All