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second thoughts

noun

plural of second thought
as in irresolutions
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second thoughts
  1. doubts
  2. misgivings
Noun
  • The Health Secretary at the time of the babies’ deaths came to express doubts about Letby’s guilt.
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Some of the jurors have since spoken publicly; three female jurors told NBC10 Boston that the holdout juror had allegedly expressed doubts about the prosecution’s case.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of doubts
Noun
  • Vasarhelyi, seemingly a less hands-on presence in this project, voices a few more misgivings, at one stage pointedly asking her husband how many people who have previously been guests at their dinner table are now dead.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Wall Street analysts expressed misgivings due to expanding memory chip costs, questions over demand as product prices rise and continued pressure on profit margins, StreetAccount said.
    — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of misgivings
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.

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second thought
second thoughts
secrecy
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Cite this Entry

“Second thoughts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20thoughts. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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