as in splashes
to flow in a broken irregular stream
water rippling gently over the tiers of the fountain
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Recent Examples of ripples
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026
These branches receive molecular signals at one end of a neuron and induce the cell to rapidly fire an electrical charge that ripples down the cell body, known as an action potential.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
Chaos ripples out from the Oval Office hourly as from rocks dumped into a pond.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Indeed, his imprint ripples outward, from the interstellar swagger of OutKast and the android futurism of Janelle Monáe to the mystical poise of Erykah Badu and the sculptural, otherworldly aesthetics of Solange, Grace Wales Bonner, and Pharrell Williams.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
That psychedelic wash of overtone-rich sound that ripples through the chorus of Donovan’s 1968 hit?
—Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Violence ripples out Irvin, 22, was dead just 10 days later.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The result is a cost shock that ripples through almost every device with a memory slot.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
As a doctor is forced to flee Aleppo with her young daughter, one desperate choice sets off a chain of events that ripples across borders and interlocking stories.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
His impact ripples through foundational pieces still on the Broncos’ roster — Garett Bolles, Courtland Sutton, Surtain and Alex Singleton.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2026
These branches receive molecular signals at one end of a neuron and induce the cell to rapidly fire an electrical charge that ripples down the cell body, known as an action potential.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
Chaos ripples out from the Oval Office hourly as from rocks dumped into a pond.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Indeed, his imprint ripples outward, from the interstellar swagger of OutKast and the android futurism of Janelle Monáe to the mystical poise of Erykah Badu and the sculptural, otherworldly aesthetics of Solange, Grace Wales Bonner, and Pharrell Williams.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
That psychedelic wash of overtone-rich sound that ripples through the chorus of Donovan’s 1968 hit?
—Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
Violence ripples out Irvin, 22, was dead just 10 days later.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The result is a cost shock that ripples through almost every device with a memory slot.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
As a doctor is forced to flee Aleppo with her young daughter, one desperate choice sets off a chain of events that ripples across borders and interlocking stories.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripples
Verb
-
How To Water Begonias The best time of day to water begonias is in the morning so any water that splashes onto the leaves can dry before the sun goes down.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
-
But not a man who splashes $4,000 on a new drum kit, all the money the couple have.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When a body washes ashore in the Long Island vacation town of Amity, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) tries to close the beaches only to be overruled by the mayor, Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), who fears the loss of tourist revenue.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The nonprofit has stepped in after numerous disasters, and washes loads for veterans and families living in cars and hotels.—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Jojoba seed oil and sunflower seed extract hydrate dry hair so curls stay bouncy and not crunchy.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Then there’s the Medium Conditioner, which features shea butter, castor oil, and panthenol to smooth the cuticle and lock in hydration, keeping curls soft and defined.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Spots for leisure are in no way hard to find; SEA is a stone's throw away from waterfront lounges like Kingfisher, which bubbles with live music, seafood, and a lively clientele, as well as new Italian spot Forno and art space Sachs Gallery.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Cook on a skillet over medium heat using butter or coconut oil and flip once bubbles form.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One consequential choice with repercussions beyond Thursday was the Giants’ decision to start Adrian Houser for Game 2.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
In this best-selling memoir, Foo investigates the repercussions of complex PTSD (C-PTSD) caused by her abusive parents and her subsequent estrangement from each of them in turn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Where exactly the funding trickles down to isn’t always known.—
Keely Bastow,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Snowpack is an essential lifeline for the state’s water supply that keeps reservoirs healthy, acting as a slow, natural release system that melts gradually through drier periods and trickles water down into reservoirs.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Israel claimed responsibility for the strikes on the South Pars petrochemical complex in Asaluyeh, a key site for Iran's energy sector, both for production of petroleum by-products and for joint work with Qatar on the world's largest natural gas field.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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These included an ice-cream parlor, souvenir shops, and homes repurposed into Airbnbs—all by-products of a growing tourism industry on Fogo.—
Akash Kapur,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His ethos is guided by the idea that physical appearance trumps all else, though its offshoots venture into sexist, misogynistic and racist philosophies.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Mulch too close to the trunk can also confuse the tree or shrub into growing new roots or offshoots.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripples.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripples. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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