ramifications

8 synonyms for ramifications, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The consequences of an action or decision, especially ones that are complicated, far-reaching and not obvious at first.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

consequences

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

fallout

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

implications repercussions knock-on effects branches offshoots subdivisions

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The consequences of an action or decision, especially ones that are complicated, far-reaching and not obvious at first.

“Nobody had thought through the ramifications of merging the two databases.”

consequences implications repercussions fallout knock-on effects

2. noun formal

The branches or subdivisions into which something spreads out.

“The ramifications of the nerve spread across the base of the skull.”

branches offshoots subdivisions

How to use ramifications

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

legal ramifications far-reaching ramifications the full ramifications ramifications for

Formal to neutral; frequent in legal, political and business writing.

Etymology

Via French ramification from Latin ramus 'branch' — literally a branching out, from which the sense of consequences spreading like branches developed.

Full origin of ramifications →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ramifications and consequences?

Consequences are simply what follows from an action, good or bad. Ramifications carries the extra idea of branching complexity — indirect, spreading effects that were not immediately visible. You would not call one direct, obvious outcome a ramification.

Are ramifications always negative?

Not strictly, but usage leans heavily negative and readers hear a warning. If the spreading effects are positive, "implications" or "benefits" reads more naturally.

Is "ramification" ever used in the singular?

Yes, but it is uncommon, because the word is about a network of effects. "One ramification of the policy" is correct and means one strand of that network.

People also searched

consequences fallout

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of ramifications