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.
Small aftershocks are possible, said the Geological Survey. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025 It was followed by more than 1,400 aftershocks, many of them small. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025 What about a financial sector crisis like the one that slowly unfolded over 2008 with aftershocks that went on for years? Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025 And then the aftershocks of that event give the story a final twist. Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Sep. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Aftershock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aftershock. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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