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

Community leaders also warned of ripple effects in hospitals, nursing homes and home health care, where many Haitian immigrants work. — Maria Santana, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Canepa said the weather service is eyeballing what the ripple effect of that hurricane will be on low pressure in the upper northwest and the high pressure near the Great Basin that caused a heat wave last week. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

This shifts the risk dynamic across the entire ecosystem, creating a powerful ripple effect upward to OEMs and Primes. — Chris Hale, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

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