Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for domino effect.
Definitions

domino effect

NOUN
cumulative effect from one event setting off a chain of events
Synonyms
WEAK
causal sequence cause and effect chain of events contagion effect domino theory knock-on knock-on effect ripple effect slippery slope

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There is the distinct risk of a domino effect given the thousands of other pending cases against the company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The latest blackout was due to an outage in a generating unit at one of the country's eight thermoelectric plants, triggering a domino effect in the system, according to authorities.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

The selloff may have been exacerbated by a domino effect of investors trying to front-run selling their shares, in Gastwirth’s opinion.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

It helps avoid a kind of domino effect involving other swing states, including Ohio to the north and Pennsylvania to the northeast.

From Slate • Jul. 18, 2025

Stack collapses weren’t that uncommon, and if the scaffold supports buckled at the wrong angle, the domino effect could bring down four or five of the neighboring stacks too.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline