aftershock

noun

af·​ter·​shock ˈaf-tər-ˌshäk How to pronounce aftershock (audio)
1
: an aftereffect of a distressing or traumatic event
2
: a minor shock following the main shock of an earthquake

Examples of aftershock in a Sentence

The first aftershock came just minutes after the earthquake.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Strengthening Global Health Security Through Immunization Programs In a world still recovering from the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency of strengthening global health systems cannot be overstated. Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025 Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which may now be drawing to a close, has dramatically reshaped much of the Middle East and is still delivering aftershocks. Greg Myre, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025 As aftershocks rumbled and tsunami warnings rang out, teachers hurried the children to higher ground behind the school. Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025 The mid-1970s, when Carter became a national public figure, was a time of transition, full of the aftershocks of the progress and devastation that had characterized the previous decade, not least in the arena of the civil rights movement. Lily Rothman, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aftershock 

Word History

Etymology

after- + shock entry 1

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aftershock was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near aftershock

Cite this Entry

“Aftershock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aftershock. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

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