ripple effect

noun

: a spreading, pervasive, and usually unintentional effect or influence

the automotive industry has a ripple effect on many other industries

compare domino effect

Examples of ripple effect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There is always a home domain, and having the ability to connect the dots and see the ripple effects across domains makes C-level teams unique. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

That partnership has already had a ripple effect, identifying targets who would have otherwise been undetected and resulting in indictments, like the case involving the 13 defendants. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

The Democrat acknowledged that sweeping measures would have ripple effects throughout the economy. — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 9 Aug. 2026

When the United States and Israel fired their opening salvos against Iran in February, starting a war whose ripple effects would be felt across the globe for months to come, the reactions from Russia and China were relatively muted. — Ariane Tabatabai, Time, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ripple effect

• aftereffect
• interconnect
• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct