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
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Recent Examples of cascades
Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Welles, who was nominated for four Grammys in 2025, is a gifted lyricist, and his finest verses use cascades of slant rhymes to move subtly from specific finger-pointing to broader implication.
—Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Head to destinations with stirring water views, from the crashing cascades of Niagara Falls to the dramatic Oregon coast.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
When a mechanical failure hits or a system outage cascades into days of delays, the airline might eventually rebook a flight.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 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
Noun
With a few hundred centrifuges, enough for two or three cascades, Faragasso said the Iranians could have enriched their uranium stores to weapon grade.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Welles, who was nominated for four Grammys in 2025, is a gifted lyricist, and his finest verses use cascades of slant rhymes to move subtly from specific finger-pointing to broader implication.
—Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Head to destinations with stirring water views, from the crashing cascades of Niagara Falls to the dramatic Oregon coast.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
When a mechanical failure hits or a system outage cascades into days of delays, the airline might eventually rebook a flight.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 17 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cascades
Noun
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Turtlehead is the perfect choice for bog or rain gardens or alongside koi ponds and waterfalls.—
Lynn McAlpine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
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When January arrives, the waterfalls often transform into icefalls.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The series streams on Disney+/Hulu, with the first three seasons also currently available on Netflix.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
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Christopher Kuhagen Survivor airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+.—
Christopher Kuhagen,
jsonline.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pakistan's army chief said lasting peace depends on Kabul cutting ties with militants targeting his country.—
SUZAN FRASER AND MUNIR AHMED THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
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The war’s impact on inflation depends on its severity and duration as well as the magnitude of the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow corridor through which one in five barrels of oil around the world flow.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Season 2 will focus on three more scenic escapes as Ross jets off to new destinations.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Iranians also continue to argue over who should lead if the current government falls.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
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The peak falls near a first-quarter moon this year, which bodes well for another bright, impressive shower this year, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The panel issues key recommendations on cancer screenings, STI testing, counseling and other preventive services.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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Once the filing portal opens, the IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days, especially when the return is filed electronically and the refund is deposited directly into a bank account.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the casting of her onscreen son could not have been better, the actress gushes.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Mar. 2026
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Anthony and Kate’s whereabouts are alluded to in the opening minutes of the season four premiere, as the Bridgerton family gushes over Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) baby boy, Elliott.—
Olivia Singh,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The other two types are subserosal (which protrudes on the outside of the uterus) and intramural (which grow within the muscle layer).—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
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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 10 Mar. 2026.
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