as in waterfalls
a fall of water usually from a great height
the river forms a series of cascades as it drops a total of 200 feet in elevation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of cascades
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
Falling from an elegant halterneck, the gown cascades to the floor in tiers and tiers (and more tiers) of ruffled mesh and sequins.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026
Others relish the frisky sounds of sleigh bells and triumphant cascades of horns that embellish so many holiday classics.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The importance of active avoidance To prevent crashes and cascades, satellite companies could adopt a leave no trace standard, which means designing satellites that do not fragment, release debris or endanger their neighbors, and that can be safely removed from orbit.
—Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025
An advisory covers the cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties (including Mount Baker).
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
The resulting sandstone cliffs, canyon rims, wooded highlands, tumbling cascades, and swimming holes are a nature enthusiast’s playground.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Written by the Dusters and Larry Keel, the song’s vulnerable lyrics are boosted in particular by banjoist Chris Pandolfi and dobro player Andy Hall, who serve up blistering cascades of banjo and dobro, alongside bandmates Travis Book (double bass), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Andy Falco (guitar).
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
The summit brings heart-stopping views of glacial valleys, sky-high waterfalls plunging through the rocky cliffs, and cascades of water far below.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
Spot striking tropical flowers, colorful birds, and perhaps even a monkey in the forest canopy around the cascades.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
Falling from an elegant halterneck, the gown cascades to the floor in tiers and tiers (and more tiers) of ruffled mesh and sequins.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026
Others relish the frisky sounds of sleigh bells and triumphant cascades of horns that embellish so many holiday classics.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The importance of active avoidance To prevent crashes and cascades, satellite companies could adopt a leave no trace standard, which means designing satellites that do not fragment, release debris or endanger their neighbors, and that can be safely removed from orbit.
—Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025
An advisory covers the cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties (including Mount Baker).
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
The resulting sandstone cliffs, canyon rims, wooded highlands, tumbling cascades, and swimming holes are a nature enthusiast’s playground.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Written by the Dusters and Larry Keel, the song’s vulnerable lyrics are boosted in particular by banjoist Chris Pandolfi and dobro player Andy Hall, who serve up blistering cascades of banjo and dobro, alongside bandmates Travis Book (double bass), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Andy Falco (guitar).
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
The summit brings heart-stopping views of glacial valleys, sky-high waterfalls plunging through the rocky cliffs, and cascades of water far below.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cascades
Noun
-
Seasonal waterfalls flow alongside the trail, sometimes off the sides of the mountain.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
These unique rocks were formed by glaciers, as were many of the impressive cliffs and waterfalls nearby.—
Cailey Rizzo,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This is not a dinky smart projector that streams content over Wi-Fi to a spare wall or big screen.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If your dog loves to nap in the same spot, such as a place where sunlight streams in for a few hours each day, use a lint roller on it a few times a week to prevent any buildup.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Solopreneurship may be the default way of starting a business, but survival increasingly depends on how effectively founders use AI.—
Alison Coleman,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Coaxing those green shoots to sprout depends on the type of seed's temperature, light, and moisture requirements.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Season 2 will focus on three more scenic escapes as Ross jets off to new destinations.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The cold air is then expected to stay in place through the beginning of February, ensuring that whatever snow falls this weekend will stay on the ground for a while.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Only one other player has been ever elected by the writers with 1,500 or fewer hits — Roy Campanella (1,422) in 1969 — and that total falls far short of the average career hit mark for all Hall of Fame batters, which is 2,330.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, Miller demands progress reports on his mass-deportation campaign and issues orders to the full alphabet soup of federal enforcement agencies, including the FBI, CBP, ICE, HHS, and the DOD.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The calendar turns to 2026 today, and a host of new state laws — 300 or so — take effect that address issues large and not so large.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wilson gushes about Adebayo on Good Morning America.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Daphne Nestled among the seafood joints and pub-grub eateries is this little farm-to-table outfit that DePledge gushes over.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cascades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cascades. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
