as in doubt
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of second thought
And then a second thought immediately popped into his head.
—
oregonlive, 3 May 2022
My second thought, as the slap hit home, was: Why did nobody think of this before?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022
In the past, Fischer, 40, who lives in Miami Beach, Fla., wouldn’t have given his mild cold symptoms a second thought.
—Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021
As the existing workforce exits the industry and new technological innovation changes how projects are imagined and built, the industry has a unique opportunity to attract a new type of worker who may never have given construction a second thought.
—Mark Schwartz, Forbes, 17 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for second thought
oregonlive, 3 May 2022
My second thought, as the slap hit home, was: Why did nobody think of this before?
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022
In the past, Fischer, 40, who lives in Miami Beach, Fla., wouldn’t have given his mild cold symptoms a second thought.
—Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2021
As the existing workforce exits the industry and new technological innovation changes how projects are imagined and built, the industry has a unique opportunity to attract a new type of worker who may never have given construction a second thought.
—Mark Schwartz, Forbes, 17 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for second thought
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second thought
Noun
-
There have been plenty of doubts about the Braves' starting rotation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
And if there’s any doubt as to whether the electronics withstand the dangers of space, just take some solace in knowing that even tech built more than 50 years ago can be up to the task.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Connecticut students should not lose access to meaningful support because of hesitation.—
Christopher P. DeSanctis,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Mets don’t have any hesitation in letting Benge face lefties, but wanted to keep Robert’s bat in the lineup.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second thought.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20thought. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
