side effect
noun
: a secondary and usually adverse effect (as of a drug)
toxic side effects
called also side reaction
Examples of side effect in a Sentence
Nausea and diarrhea are the side effects of the drug.
the harmful side effects of using chemicals to kill insects
The merger created positive side effects for both companies.
Recent Examples on the Web
What this narrative neglects are all the ways treatment might cause terrible side effects, or the long period one spends being sick, and how one’s identity may have changed in the interim.
—
Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Passing gas can be a side effect of eating beans, thanks to the complex sugar raffinose, which is plentiful in the legumes.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 18 May 2026
Splitting your doses throughout the day can help minimize side effects like nausea or stomach discomfort.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 18 May 2026
According to data from Clinics in Oncology, the therapy has shown relatively mild side effects and has been fast-tracked in countries such as the Philippines.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for side effect
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.
Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
Passing gas can be a side effect of eating beans, thanks to the complex sugar raffinose, which is plentiful in the legumes.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 18 May 2026
Splitting your doses throughout the day can help minimize side effects like nausea or stomach discomfort.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 18 May 2026
According to data from Clinics in Oncology, the therapy has shown relatively mild side effects and has been fast-tracked in countries such as the Philippines.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for side effect
Cite this Entry
“Side effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side%20effect. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
