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

Even before the Trump administration’s cuts, women’s and girls’ organizations were receiving less than 2% of all charitable giving in the U.S. Across the globe, failing to uphold a girl’s right to education has measurable ripple effects across entire communities. —Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Some of the ripple effects of the administrative actions include scientists and other staff being reassigned to clean toilets, facility closures and fewer emergency responders available to help visitors in distress, park advocates told McClatchy News. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Tariff effects already being felt Consumers have already begun to ripple effects of tariffs in the form of price hikes on everyday products from footwear to mobile charging devices. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025

However, the president's flagship policy has sparked concerns about its potential ripple effects on the economy. —Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025

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