AFTERWARDS Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

afterward

adverb

ˈaf-tər-wərd

variants or afterwards

Definition of afterward

as in later

following in time or place we'll go to the play, then have supper afterward

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 afterward The transit agency banned him afterward in September, court records show. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026 Shortly afterwards, he was seen walking around church property just before surveillance footage showed smoke start to billow out of the building. — Ben Brachfeld, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Soon afterward, two mission helicopters were seen conducting maneuvers over the city. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Governance frameworks need to be in place before the first dataset is generated, not bolted on afterward. — Richard Clough, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for afterward

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afterward

Adverb

Court records also show a woman obtained a domestic violence restraining order against Iriarte-Valdez early last year and that he was later accused of violating it.

— Maddie White, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Castillo helped his own cause with the nice fielding play on Friedl’s attempt to reach on the bunt later in the fifth.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of later

Adverb

Colorado’s athletics program uncovered financial discrepancies during an internal audit of its 2025 records, and alerted police soon after.

— Matt Moret, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Not long after, the team had their Sky greenlight and BBC Studios jumped aboard to shop globally.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of after

Adverb

Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback for Carolina — likely for two to three series — with Haynes King getting all the reps thereafter.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2026
Shortly thereafter, the association endorsed the task force’s recommendation to support legalization.

— Vanessa Rampton, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of thereafter

Browse Nearby Words

aftertastes

afterward

afterword

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Afterward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afterward. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of afterward

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on afterward

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

vacuous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes