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

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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
Florida’s ballot amendment would ripple through local governments. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 At that hour, reflections ripple across ceilings and corridors, softening the intensity of the landscape outside. — Mona Basharat, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026
Noun
Some have noted that some alien evidence has been declassified recently and barely made a ripple. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 June 2026 The water was like glass, its reflection of the colors and clouds suggestive of a James Turrell installation, broken only by the occasional ripple of fish chasing other fish. — John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 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
  • As extreme heat hits Boston, residents are finding ways to stay cool, from splashing in Frog Pond to stocking up on water at Fenway Park, while city officials and utility crews urge people to take precautions.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • White delivery vans with orange Katapulk logos splashed across each side delivered goods all over the island.
    — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 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
  • Sportico’s Michael McCann, who is an attorney and a law professor, breaks down the potential legal fallout of a lockout in two parts.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
  • After rumors of a fallout between Swift and Karlie Kloss, the model was spotted arriving at Madison Square Garden.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 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
  • Some physicians recommend washing your mouth out after use by gargling and rinsing your mouth with water.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • The optimal times to use hair oil are before washing your hair or after a blow-dry.
    — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 July 2026
Definition of wash
Noun
  • 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
  • After three years in the Eurovision wilderness, Romania makes a loud-and-proud comeback with a propulsive blend of nu-metal guitars, angsty melodies, and operatic trills worthy of a hand-horn salute.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 11 May 2026
Definition of trill
Noun
  • The resulting anxiety and panic are an unfortunate side effect of a banner year for fireworks shows.
    — Bill Chappell, NPR, 28 June 2026
  • Mendez is in a special therapy program for patients who have aphasia, which is a common side effect of having a stroke.
    — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Definition of side effect
Noun
  • Brittany Mahomes showed off a head full of romantic wavy curls created by Nashville stylist Brooke Barloe, who posted a photo on her Instagram.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Steam rises in slow curls from a shaping stand while local kids climb onto high-top chairs and a Coors Light is passed between old friends across the counter.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
Definition of curl

Browse Nearby Words

ripping (out)
ripple
rippled
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Cite this Entry

“Ripple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripple. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ripple

Nglish: Translation of ripple for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ripple

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