domino effect
Sequential collapse pattern
A domino effect is a chain reaction where one event triggers another, which triggers another, like a row of standing dominoes toppling in sequence.
The term appears in discussions of cascading consequences: The factory closure had a domino effect on the local economy.
It gained currency during the Cold War, when the "domino theory" predicted that if one country fell to communism, neighboring countries would follow.
Self-sustaining causal sequence
- snowballCompressed winter precipitation
- avalancheRapid mountain snow collapse
- collapseSudden structural failure
- toppleCause to fall
tumble · crumble · fall · knockdown · contagion · spillover · runaway · unraveling
What initiates action
- consequenceResult of an action
- causeWhat produces an effect
- resultWhat follows a cause
- aftermathResults following an event
repercussion · outcome · linkage · interconnectedness · interdependency · catalyst · precipitate · ramification
Following in order
- progressionSequential forward movement
- seriesOrdered set of related items
- chainLinked segments forming length
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
order · consecutive · unfolding · train · string · one after another · sequential · step-by-step
Minor surface disturbance
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- transmissionSending of information
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- proliferationRapid increase in quantity
escalation · amplification · expansion · wave · radiation · dissemination · reach · permeation
Impossible to prevent
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- irreversibleCannot be undone
- predeterminedEstablished beforehand
- foregone conclusionResult assumed beforehand
unstoppable · certain · fated · inexorable · point of no return · tipping point · threshold · critical mass
Impossible to halt
- inexorableImpossible to prevent
- buildingEnclosed roofed structure
- acceleratingIncreasing in speed
- forceStrength or compulsion
impetus · drive · surge · snowballing · gathering pace · self-perpetuating · compounding · cumulative
chain reaction
Self-sustaining causal sequence
- snowballCompressed winter precipitation
- avalancheRapid mountain snow collapse
- collapseSudden structural failure
topple · tumble · crumble · fall · knockdown · contagion · spillover · runaway · unraveling · disintegration
trigger
What initiates action
- consequenceResult of an action
- causeWhat produces an effect
- resultWhat follows a cause
aftermath · repercussion · outcome · linkage · interconnectedness · interdependency · catalyst · precipitate · ramification · causal chain
succession
Following in order
- progressionSequential forward movement
- seriesOrdered set of related items
- chainLinked segments forming length
continuity · order · consecutive · unfolding · train · string · one after another · sequential · step-by-step · linear
ripple
Minor surface disturbance
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- transmissionSending of information
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
proliferation · escalation · amplification · expansion · wave · radiation · dissemination · reach · permeation · influence
unavoidable
Impossible to prevent
- inescapableImpossible to avoid
- irreversibleCannot be undone
- predeterminedEstablished beforehand
foregone conclusion · unstoppable · certain · fated · inexorable · point of no return · tipping point · threshold · critical mass
unstoppable
Impossible to halt
- inexorableImpossible to prevent
- buildingEnclosed roofed structure
- acceleratingIncreasing in speed
force · impetus · drive · surge · snowballing · gathering pace · self-perpetuating · compounding · cumulative · exponential
- Indirect Effectssecondhand smoke, passive smoking, collateral damage, spillover, chain reaction
- runaway effectschain reaction, feedback loop, exponential growth, avalanche, chain reactions
- cascadesfalls, flow, pour, torrent, rush
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- consequencesconsequence, consequences, result, results, outcome
- effectsconsequence, result, special effects, outcome, sound effects
domino effectcontainment
Preventing hostile expansion
firebreak · insulation · firewall · quarantine · compartmentalization
domino effectattenuation
Gradual intensity reduction
diminishing returns · dissipation · absorption · regression to the mean · stabilization
effect, domain, domination, domino, dominoes, domineer, dominos, dominoing