ripple 1 of 2

verb

ˈri-pəl How to pronounce ripple (audio)
Definition of ripplenext
as in to splash
to flow in a broken irregular stream water rippling gently over the tiers of the fountain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ripple

2 of 2

noun

1
as in warble

Related Words
2
as in fallout

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
3
as in wavelet

Related Words

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 ripple
Verb
Before long, the neighborhood became a proving ground and creative hub for an eclectic music scene whose influence continues to ripple through Atlanta today. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 29 July 2026 As gas becomes more expensive, the effects ripple across regional electricity markets, raising costs for utilities, governments, businesses, and households. — Michael Adu Okyere, Time, 28 July 2026
Noun
In her first 48 hours as a Husky, Dursus even caused a little ripple of controversy. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 Its sculptural form is inspired by the ripple created by a three-point shot, a subtle reference to her signature. — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripple
  1. splash
  2. warble
  3. fallout
  4. wavelet
  5. wash
  6. trill
  7. side effect
  8. curl
Verb
  • Brighton splashed £30million on then 18-year-old Kostoulas from Olympiacos in his homeland during last year’s summer window.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Emily in Paris chronicles the birth of an influencer, regularly splashing Emily’s Instagram posts and growing follower count across the screen.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of splash
Noun
  • For a time, the engine, with its distinctive exhaust warble, became closely associated with Audi’s lineup, aided in no small part by the motorsport successes of five-cylinder rally cars like the Sport Quattro S1 E2.
    — Bradley Iger, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
  • The music fills our bodies, its rhythm melding with a deeper-time cycle of day-to-night, seasons changing, the imperceptible warble of a planet spinning gently on its axis.
    — Florence Williams, Outside Online, 11 May 2025
Definition of warble
Noun
  • Aside from social media posts complaining about the war’s fallout and some grumbling from oligarchs about the Kremlin seizing their assets, there are still no signs of any widespread popular unrest against Vladimir Putin’s regime.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • This latest twist came after the most recent cycle of attacks failed to break Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait and in fact saw the war expand to the Red Sea and Egypt, threatening even greater fallout for the global economy.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of fallout
Noun
  • Pipe those wavelets of foie gras feculence over to neighboring Surfside, a two-bathroom kind of town with waste pipes galore.
    — Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
  • Its wavelets lap enticingly at our feet, but the breaker that might truly knock the breath out of us never comes.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of wavelet
Verb
  • The warning was to never wash her hands while wearing the ring, because the eye could wash away.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In response, temporary chemical toilets and hand-washing stations were installed, the department said.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of wash
Noun
  • Is that the power of belief, which comes through in her delivery, or just the way a flute’s trill can sound like exploration and hope?
    — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026
  • The music flows out with ease—quick trills, raspy runs, then long, aching holds that stretch just to the edge of breaking.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Definition of trill
Noun
  • And neither happens easily in organizations that treat the human experience of change as a side effect to be managed rather than a reality to be understood.
    — Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Its results have sparked a flurry of activity as physicists try to determine whether the conflicting measurements are a side effect of different experimental procedures, or a sign that new particles are popping up after all.
    — Matt von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 29 July 2026
Definition of side effect
Noun
  • Following her blonde era, Zendaya opted to chop off her locks and embrace her curls.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • Maye’s final period featured completions to Brown on a curl route in front of Gonzalez, Romeo Doubs running an out route and Brown again on a slant, this time in front of Charles Woods.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of curl

Browse Nearby Words

ripping (out)
ripple
rippled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripple. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ripple

Nglish: Translation of ripple for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ripple

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All