aftershock

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)An earthquake that follows in the same vicinity as another, usually larger, earthquake (the "mainshock").

   “It was not a peace that brought joy – it was one that created an oppressive tension like the calm between a major earthquake and the aftershock.”

   “As aftershocks of 3.0 magnitude or higher continued to rock the area, rescuers transported over 50,000 people from the hardest-hit Luding county, according to local media”

2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)By extension, any result or consequence following a major event.

   “The collapse of the financial market sixty days later was the aftershock.”

   “Set in the 1950s, Badlands looks back to that period of malaise in American culture which was defined by the aftershock of world war, the fears engendered by the Cold War, and the questioning of both cultural and individual identity.”

   “On the other hand, in a global economy, many governments are seeking to limit their social costs in order to attract global corporations to invest in their countries, while also grappling with the aftershock of the banking crisis which has seen state financial support to the banking sector amount to L850 billion of guarantees and loans (National Audit Office, 2011).”

   “The Republican president is making a major political bet that his actions will not worsen inflation, cause financial aftershocks that could destabilize the worldwide economy or provoke a voter backlash.”

3. (countable, uncountable)Emotional and physical distress following a traumatic event.

   “Far from being an emotional aftershock following an event that upsets our whole world, horror is what first discloses to us the upsetting possibility that our world as a whole can cease to be.”

   “Aftershock is my own term for post-traumatic reactions experienced by activists.”

   “"I meant, how are you doing with the aftershock?" "Aftershock? I keep thinking there must have been something I could have done."”

   “He wavered on his feet from adrenaline aftershock, blood loss, and from the fact that he was ruined.”