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.
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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
-
Nmecha holds back, posing doubt for Sanchez and a narrow window for his pass out.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Still, there’s little doubt that expectations around AI are factoring into chief executives’ more frequent departures in one way or another.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While that hesitation is healthy (generally, reimagining your routine as often as social media encourages isn’t always best), turns out there is actual merit to tweaking your products along with the evolving seasons.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
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His short responses feel distant, and his hesitation comes across as disinterest.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20thought. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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