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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Indirectly, ripple effects will hit suppliers, local retail, transport, and states' tax revenues. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Now on the seventh day of the government shutdown, the same scenario is playing out at FAA offices across the country, with ripple effects hitting flights almost everywhere. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025 Receiver Xavier Worthy returned from injury and added a dimension and created a ripple effect with his presence. Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2025 When his master, Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), dies, Dunk knights himself Ser Duncan the Tall and goes off to compete in the tourney at Ashford Meadow to earn some coin, setting in motion certain events that will have ripple effects for the larger world. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ripple effect

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ripple effect was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Ripple effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripple%20effect. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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