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
The ripple effects have spread far beyond Washington, as cities see Pride funding dry up as corporate America fears retribution or consumer backlash for supporting anything that might not pass Trump’s DEI smell test.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 17 May 2025
People have started to speculate how Boston will approach a season without Jayson Tatum and the ripple effects of that.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
An analysis of a February 2025 proposal that would cut about US$5.5 billion from National Institutes of Health grants estimated the ripple effect through college towns and supply chains would cost $6.1 billion in GDP, or total national productivity, and over 46,000 jobs.
—Paul Bierman, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
The ripple effect of Trump’s campaign to reroute global trade patterns is seen in boilerplate language included in Sony’s report.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripple effect
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.
Philip Elliott, Time, 17 May 2025
People have started to speculate how Boston will approach a season without Jayson Tatum and the ripple effects of that.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
An analysis of a February 2025 proposal that would cut about US$5.5 billion from National Institutes of Health grants estimated the ripple effect through college towns and supply chains would cost $6.1 billion in GDP, or total national productivity, and over 46,000 jobs.
—Paul Bierman, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
The ripple effect of Trump’s campaign to reroute global trade patterns is seen in boilerplate language included in Sony’s report.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripple effect
Cite this Entry
“Ripple effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripple%20effect. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share