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 key driver of this growth in defense is drones, a technology that is rapidly advancing warfare and could have ripple effects on other commercial technologies down the line. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026

Her deeply tacky ball is the event of the episode, and her arrival has quite the ripple effect throughout the Ton. —Christina Grace Tucker, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026

After June, when the center begins welcoming visitors, the economic ripple effect the president hopes for will largely be out of his hands. —A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026

Both depositions follow the release of millions of documents related to Epstein by the Department of Justice that have led to a string of high-profile investigations, resignations and other ripple effects in multiple countries. —Philip Wang, Time, 26 Feb. 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