aftermath
What disaster leaves
Aftermath originally meant a second crop of grass growing after the first has been mowed—the "after-math" (math being an old word for mowing).
Now it refers to the period or consequences following a significant event, usually a destructive or turbulent one: the aftermath of the hurricane, in the aftermath of the scandal.
The word carries connotations of dealing with damage or sorting through what remains.
What follows a cause
- outcomeFinal result of events
- effectResult of a cause
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
aftereffect · upshot · corollary · sequel · legacy · fallout · ripple · backlash
Post-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- HiroshimaFirst nuclear-struck city
isotopes · half-life · decontamination · evacuation · shelter · mutation · dosimeter · ground-zero
Broken building fragments
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
carnage · damage · wasteland · desolation · havoc · chaos · shambles · remnants
Constructing anew after destruction
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- restorationReturning something to condition
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- renewalMaking current again
revival · healing · recuperation · resilience · regeneration · rejuvenation · revitalization · redevelopment
result
What follows a cause
- outcomeFinal result of events
- effectResult of a cause
- repercussionIndirect result of action
ramification · aftereffect · upshot · corollary · sequel · legacy · fallout · ripple · backlash · backwash
fallout
Post-blast atmospheric particles
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
Hiroshima · isotopes · half-life · decontamination · evacuation · shelter · mutation · dosimeter · ground-zero · irradiation
rubble
Broken building fragments
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
devastation · carnage · damage · wasteland · desolation · havoc · chaos · shambles · remnants · ashes
rebuilding
Constructing anew after destruction
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- restorationReturning something to condition
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
renewal · revival · healing · recuperation · resilience · regeneration · rejuvenation · revitalization · redevelopment · repair
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- warcombat, warfare, battle scenes, battles, soldier
- after-afternoon, afterward, afterlife, aftereffect, afterimage
- Aftereffectsfallout, side effects, ripple effect, ripple effects, long-term effects
- postwarrebuilding, demobilization, peace treaties, treaty signing, war reparations
- timesecond, minute, hour, day, seconds
aftermathprelude
Introductory piece or event
antecedent · precursor · forerunner · lead-up · buildup
- World War I aftermathConsequences following the Great Conflict
- WWII aftermathConsequences following 1945
- civil war aftermathPeriod following internal conflict