afterthought
Late-arriving idea
An afterthought is something thought of or added later, after the main matter has been settled or completed.
The word often carries a dismissive edge—to call something an afterthought suggests it wasn't important enough to consider initially: The garage was clearly an afterthought, tacked onto the house years later.
A person treated as an afterthought feels overlooked or secondary.
End-of-letter addition
- footnoteCitation at page bottom
- appendixSupplementary section after main text
- epilogueConcluding literary section
- supplementSomething added to complete
codicil · addendum · afterword · annotation · add-on · attachment · insert · tailpiece
Reflection on past events
- realizationGrasping what's true
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
- reassessmentRenewed evaluation of something
- epiphanySudden profound insight
revelation · insight · regret · reflection · lessons learned · wisdom · perspective · understanding
Without advance preparation
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- last-minuteJust before deadline
- spur-of-the-momentDone without advance planning
off-the-cuff · ad-lib · hasty · rushed · belated · tardy · delayed · eleventh-hour
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- omissionFailure to include
- neglectFailure to provide care
- forgetfulnessFailure to retain information
- lapseBrief failure or expiration
slip · inattention · carelessness · disregard · inadvertence · mistake · blunder · heedlessness
External computer add-on
- ancillaryProviding additional support
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- minorScale with lowered third
lesser · trivial · unimportant · insignificant · throwaway · dispensable · nonessential · marginal
postscript
End-of-letter addition
- footnoteCitation at page bottom
- appendixSupplementary section after main text
- epilogueConcluding literary section
supplement · codicil · addendum · afterword · annotation · add-on · attachment · insert · tailpiece · postlude
retrospect
Reflection on past events
- realizationGrasping what's true
- reconsiderationRenewed evaluation of something
- reassessmentRenewed evaluation of something
epiphany · revelation · insight · regret · reflection · lessons learned · wisdom · perspective · understanding · twenty-twenty
impromptu
Without advance preparation
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- last-minuteJust before deadline
spur-of-the-moment · off-the-cuff · ad-lib · hasty · rushed · belated · tardy · delayed · eleventh-hour · scrambled
oversight
Supervision or inadvertent omission
- omissionFailure to include
- neglectFailure to provide care
- forgetfulnessFailure to retain information
lapse · slip · inattention · carelessness · disregard · inadvertence · mistake · blunder · heedlessness · unmindfulness
peripheral
External computer add-on
- ancillaryProviding additional support
- incidentalMinor and unplanned
- subordinateOne lower in rank
minor · lesser · trivial · unimportant · insignificant · throwaway · dispensable · nonessential · marginal · tangential
- after-afternoon, aftershock, afterward, afterlife, afterglow
- Insignificant thingstrivial, minor, small, tiny, negligible
- Mind/Thought Idiomsbrainstorm, brain wave, think tank, mental block, blank mind
- overlookedoverlooked, unnoticed, ignored, forgotten, neglected
- second thoughtssecond thoughts, reconsideration, rethinking, change of mind, change of heart
- written notesnote, memo, jotting, scribble, reminder
afterthoughtforethought
Planning before acting
foresight · premeditation · anticipation · advance planning · forward thinking
afterthoughtpriority
Status of greater importance
centerpiece · primary concern · focal point · highlight · crux
afterthoughtdeliberate choice
Decision made on purpose
integral part · by design · predetermined · built-in · preface