ripple effects
Cascading downstream impacts
Ripple effects are the spreading consequences of an action or event, like ripples expanding outward when a stone drops into water.
The term emphasizes how one change triggers others in widening circles: The factory closure had ripple effects throughout the local economy.
Usually plural, though ripple effect appears as a singular concept.
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- aftermathResults following an event
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- collateral damageUnintended harm from military action
impact · ramification · spillover · repercussion · influence · feedback loops · cascade · knock-on effects · outcome · domino · economics · result · currents · waves · pond · stone · tremors · spreading
- Aftereffectsaftermath, aftershock, fallout, side effects, long-term effects
- inevitabilitiesdeath, mortality, taxes, fate, destiny
- problem traitsseverity, complexity, urgency, scope, impact
- UI feedbackbutton clicks, haptic feedback, progress bars, toggle switches, checkmarks
ripple effectsroot cause
Fundamental origin of problem
primary cause · triggering event · source · origin · first mover
effect, ripple, rippling, rippled, ripples, ripply, ripple effect, unrippled