as in doubt
a feeling of guilt, doubt, worry, etc., that you have after you have decided to do something or after something has happened
After she agreed to lend him the money, she had second thoughts. She was having second thoughts about getting married.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 second thought
And then a second thought immediately popped into his head.
—
oregonlive, 3 May 2022
My second thought, as the slap hit home, was: Why did nobody think of this before?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022
In the past, Fischer, 40, who lives in Miami Beach, Fla., wouldn’t have given his mild cold symptoms a second thought.
—Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021
As the existing workforce exits the industry and new technological innovation changes how projects are imagined and built, the industry has a unique opportunity to attract a new type of worker who may never have given construction a second thought.
—Mark Schwartz, Forbes, 17 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for second thought
oregonlive, 3 May 2022
My second thought, as the slap hit home, was: Why did nobody think of this before?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022
In the past, Fischer, 40, who lives in Miami Beach, Fla., wouldn’t have given his mild cold symptoms a second thought.
—Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021
As the existing workforce exits the industry and new technological innovation changes how projects are imagined and built, the industry has a unique opportunity to attract a new type of worker who may never have given construction a second thought.
—Mark Schwartz, Forbes, 17 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for second thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second thought
Noun
-
Because there is little doubt that Canadiens management sees what their coach sees, and what anyone watching their team sees.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
There are also significant doubts there are enough Navy ships to escort commercial vessels, given that 60 or more tankers typically traverse the strait each day.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After missing his two previous attempts only seconds earlier, Dixon returned to the free-throw line without any hesitation.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In an environment dictated by speed and automation, the space for hesitation, dissent, or moral restraint may be shrinking just as quickly.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20thought. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
