butterfly effect
noun
: a property of chaotic systems (such as the atmosphere) by which small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system
Examples of butterfly effect in a Sentence
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Based on mock drafts, there are some clear points in the NFL draft that have significant butterfly effects on the rest of the first round, if not, the entire draft.
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John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Matt’s arrival on the set has a butterfly effect, creating ripples of chaos.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Time travel stories often feature grim themes of destruction and butterfly effect scenarios where even a single change can lead to disastrous outcomes (like Marty almost erasing himself from existence in Back to the Future).
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
But the butterfly effect dictates that perhaps the final play would have unfolded differently, a devastating notion for the team headed back to Poughkeepsie.
—Jim Root, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for butterfly effect
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John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
Matt’s arrival on the set has a butterfly effect, creating ripples of chaos.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Time travel stories often feature grim themes of destruction and butterfly effect scenarios where even a single change can lead to disastrous outcomes (like Marty almost erasing himself from existence in Back to the Future).
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
But the butterfly effect dictates that perhaps the final play would have unfolded differently, a devastating notion for the team headed back to Poughkeepsie.
—Jim Root, The Athletic, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for butterfly effect
Cite this Entry
“Butterfly effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterfly%20effect. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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