aftershock
noun
af·ter·shock
ˈaf-tər-ˌshäk 
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
While much of America has moved on past COVID-19, the pandemic which hit the industry like an earthquake, the culinary industry continues to experience aftershocks.
—
Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 13 July 2025
Organizations invest heavily in onboarding but give almost no thought to the aftershocks of someone leaving.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
There is a 9% chance of an aftershock of 4.0 or more within a year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 10 May 2025
And the aftershocks still inform the framework of our economy, legal system and cultural memory.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aftershock
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.
Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 13 July 2025
Organizations invest heavily in onboarding but give almost no thought to the aftershocks of someone leaving.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
There is a 9% chance of an aftershock of 4.0 or more within a year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
—Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 10 May 2025
And the aftershocks still inform the framework of our economy, legal system and cultural memory.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aftershock
Cite this Entry
“Aftershock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aftershock. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share