Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun side_effect

2 senses of side effect

Sense 1
side effect -- (a secondary and usually adverse effect of a drug or therapy; "severe headaches are one of the side effects of the drug")
       => effect -- (a symptom caused by an illness or a drug; "the effects of sleep loss"; "the effect of the anesthetic")

Sense 2
side effect, fallout -- (any adverse and unwanted secondary effect; "a strategy to contain the fallout from the accounting scandal")
       => consequence, effect, outcome, result, event, issue, upshot -- (a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon; "the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise"; "his decision had depressing consequences for business"; "he acted very wise after the event")