domino effect

noun

plural domino effects
: a cumulative effect produced when one event initiates a succession of similar events compare ripple effect

Examples of domino effect in a Sentence

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An event in summer 2025 would trigger a devastating domino effect, according to McCollough’s circle. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 Sundberg was taken by MedFlight to Massachusetts General Hospital on Tuesday in critical condition after a large tree came crashing down at YMCA Camp Chickami, causing what firefighters described as a domino effect. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The domino effect of the Arraez deal has also bumped Bohm to first and Bryce Harper to rightfield. — Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 As the domino effect in Wisconsin shows, Flock’s ALPRs are a much tougher sell when police can’t chain them together into a wide-reaching web of warrantless surveillance. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for domino effect

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of domino effect was in 1924

Rhymes for domino effect

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Browse Nearby Words

domino bridge
domino effect
domino theory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Domino effect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/domino%20effect. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on domino effect

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about domino effect

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