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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

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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 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 Checkmarx isn’t the only security company to suffer the aftereffects of the Trivy breach. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 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
  • Taking a page from professional players associations, Abruzzo sees sectoral bargaining—where unions and multiple employers set baseline, industry-wide compensation and workplace standards—as the preferable long-term outcome for college athletes.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • There are four possible outcomes, all with various chances of coming to fruition.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • When a close compresses from weeks to days or a forecast updates in hours, finance can operate on current information instead of stale results.
    — Hemant Kapadia, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • After the results of a close Marshall City Council race in central Missouri had been certified, Hoskins' office received a complaint about the tallying of write-in votes, recounted them itself and instructed city officials to change the results.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of result
Noun
  • Surprisingly, despite his role in the Fast & Furious franchise and the resultant persona fans project on him, Gibson is, admittedly, not interested in pursuing motorsport and had never been drifting.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Ilie and Ghodla modeled the environment in which the resultant black hole seeds would exist and merge, calculating merger rates and the influence on the gravitational wave background.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of resultant
Noun
  • Resilience comes from an organization’s ability to recognize when defenses have failed, understand the consequences and act before a security event becomes a business crisis.
    — Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Unfortunately for her, these are all direct consequences of her actions.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of consequence
Noun
  • The War Powers Act, created in the aftermath of the Vietnam conflict, sought to put a more specific time limit on the president's power, requiring congressional approval for sustained military actions after 60 or 90 days.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In the aftermath, the protest itself has received significantly less attention.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of aftermath
Noun
  • Any new laws could have a disproportionate effect on the global tech industry because many top AI companies are based in California.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • This manicure features swirly designs in four different shades of brown, creating a beautiful gradient effect that resembles a subtle rainbow at the base of the nails.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of effect

Browse Nearby Words

afterclaps
aftereffect
aftereffects
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Cite this Entry

“Aftereffect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aftereffect. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on aftereffect

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aftereffect

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