ripples
Water's gentle waves
Ripples are small waves spreading outward from a disturbance—a stone dropped in water creates ripples that expand in concentric circles.
The word extends to any similar spreading effect: The scandal sent ripples through the industry.
As a verb, to ripple is to form such waves or move with a wavelike motion: Wind rippled the surface of the lake, Muscles rippled beneath his skin.
Small still body
- puddleShallow collected rainwater
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- streamSteady continuous flow
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
concentric circles · wavelets · disturbance · pebble · splash · reflection · shimmer · current
Move in waves
- oscillateMove rhythmically between extremes
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- flutterRapid light movement
- quiverTrembling or arrow case
sway · pulse · vibrate · flow · wave · roll · bob · spreading
Results following an event
- repercussionsIndirect results of actions
- ramificationsResulting effects or outcomes
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
knock-on effect · fallout · snowball effect · reverberations · echoes · wake · implications · outcomes
pond
Small still body
surface · concentric circles · wavelets · disturbance · pebble · splash · reflection · shimmer · current · eddy
undulate
Move in waves
- oscillateMove rhythmically between extremes
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- flutterRapid light movement
quiver · sway · pulse · vibrate · flow · wave · roll · bob · spreading · radiating
aftermath
Results following an event
- repercussionsIndirect results of actions
- ramificationsResulting effects or outcomes
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
chain reaction · knock-on effect · fallout · snowball effect · reverberations · echoes · wake · implications · outcomes · side effects
tranquil
Calm and untroubled
gentle · soothing · placid · meditative · quiet · zen · contemplative · soft · delicate · subtle
wavy
Having gentle curves
- ridgedHaving raised lines
- corrugatedFormed into parallel folds
- undulatingMoving in waves
grooved · pleated · crinkled · ruffled · crimped · gathered · puckered · fluted · scalloped · furrowed
- physical phenomenadiffusion, collision, friction, explosion, surface tension
- irregularitiesbumps, dents, ridges, grooves, wrinkles
- lake scenerowboat, canoe, kayak, dock, pier
- Water Reflectionsstill pond, double image
- waveswave crest, shock wave, wave front, blast wave, seismic wave
- Fleeting Thingsbreath, blink, wink, glance, glimpses
ripplesstillness
Complete lack of motion
calm · smoothness · placidity · tranquility · flatness
ripplescontainment
Preventing hostile expansion
isolation · dead end · stagnation · cessation · non-event
- ripple effectCascading secondary results
- water ripplesSmall surface disturbances
- gentle ripple
- raspberry rippleIce cream with fruit swirl
- wind ripples
- sand ripplesWave-like beach patterns