domino effect

noun

: a cumulative effect produced when one event initiates a succession of similar events compare ripple effect

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Netflix The actual chain of events that make up the ending to You Season 4, Part 2, is kind of a domino effect. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 10 Mar. 2023 The implosion erased tens of billions of dollars of value and caused a domino effect that led to the collapse of major crypto companies including FTX, the exchange founded by Sam Bankman-Fried. Karoun Demirjian, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2023 Banking stocks have been hit and broader markets rattled by fears over the situation even after regulators moved to contain the fallout of the bank’s collapse and avoid a domino effect. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2023 The question is: at what level does a failure cause contagion or a domino effect? Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2023 Related Kelly Clarkson turned first and led a domino effect, as Chance the Rapper and Horan swiftly fell for her charms. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2023 In the context of banking, a systemic risk occurs when one bank's troubles or failure is feared to cause a domino effect across the entire banking industry. Elisabeth Buchwald, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2023 The collapse of a stablecoin called TerraUSD—along with its sister token Luna—sparked a domino effect last year that led multiple crypto firms to go bust. Caitlin Ostroff, WSJ, 13 Mar. 2023 With Wall Street rattled, Yellen tried to reassure Americans that there will be no domino effect after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'domino effect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near domino effect

Cite this Entry

“Domino effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/domino%20effect. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

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