as in to divide
to set or force apart
the rise of cable television ramified the audience, creating ever smaller segments for an ever growing array of programming choices
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Recent Examples of ramify
Derivatives also had the habit of magnifying volatility as the risk ramified from the underlying asset— interest rates, commodities, bonds—into the derivatives like a fuse setting off a bomb.
—
Scott Patterson, Fortune, 13 June 2023
The theme ramified in a couple of directions, including Alabama’s death row.
—al, 21 Feb. 2023
During Silkie’s tenure in our household, he was frequently held, extravagantly complimented, and housed in a twin set of terraria connected by an ever-ramifying system of bendable plastic tubes and kitted out with an exercise wheel and a lookout tower.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
For an object that is fundamentally a box, designed to keep things inside it, the shipping container is a remarkable lesson in the uncontainable nature of modern life—the way our choices, like our goods, ramify around the world.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
The outcome of the Kings River conflict will ramify throughout the Central Valley and the state.
—Susie Cagle, Wired, 12 Apr. 2022
But in complex technological systems, small mistakes may rapidly ramify and compound into large problems.
—Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 16 Aug. 2021
But as the forking paths continue to ramify, Truth is to be found not in one place, but everywhere.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 5 Jan. 2021
Scott Patterson, Fortune, 13 June 2023
The theme ramified in a couple of directions, including Alabama’s death row.
—al, 21 Feb. 2023
During Silkie’s tenure in our household, he was frequently held, extravagantly complimented, and housed in a twin set of terraria connected by an ever-ramifying system of bendable plastic tubes and kitted out with an exercise wheel and a lookout tower.
—Anne Fadiman, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Feb. 2023
For an object that is fundamentally a box, designed to keep things inside it, the shipping container is a remarkable lesson in the uncontainable nature of modern life—the way our choices, like our goods, ramify around the world.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
The outcome of the Kings River conflict will ramify throughout the Central Valley and the state.
—Susie Cagle, Wired, 12 Apr. 2022
But in complex technological systems, small mistakes may rapidly ramify and compound into large problems.
—Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 16 Aug. 2021
But as the forking paths continue to ramify, Truth is to be found not in one place, but everywhere.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 5 Jan. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ramify
Verb
-
Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Most herbaceous perennials that spread or clump can flourish when divided every few years, such as hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, phlox, and bee balm.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a rare example of agency for a beneficiary community, 21 emerging Indigenous leaders recently crafted selection criteria, evaluated applicants and picked two dozen finalists to split a pool of $720,000.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The dying relative, Mitch explained, was willing to take the fall for Scott’s killing; then someone else would turn him in, claim the reward money, and split it with them.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One idea that has already been discussed internally would see Real Madrid being effectively split into two different entities — separating the football side from the business side.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
One particularly aggressive military style raid on an apartment building in south Chicago saw dozens arrested and children separated from their parents.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The front sink was blocked by waste and the ware wash sink was disconnected from the drain pipe.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Some destinations lend themselves particularly well to disconnecting.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ramify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ramify. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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