ramification
A ramification is an accidental consequence that complicates things. Remember that time you borrowed your father's car without asking? The ramification was that Dad missed an important meeting, his company went under, and he had to sell the car. Oops!
The ramifications are the broader effects that fan out into the world from one situation, or decision, that kicks it all off. Ramification also refers to something branching out, like limbs on a tree — which is what bad decisions tend to do. Ramification is like consequence, but usually unintended and bad. The word is often used in political discussions about laws or government decisions because they might be made locally but could affect people worldwide.
Definitions of ramification
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a development that complicates a situation“the court's decision had many unforeseen ramifications”
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synonyms:
complication
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type of:
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development
a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation
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development
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the act of branching out or dividing into branches
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types:
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bifurcation
the act of splitting into two branches
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trifurcation
the act of splitting into three branches
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divarication
branching at a wide angle
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fibrillation
act or process of forming fibrils
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type of:
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division
the act or process of dividing
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a part of a forked or branching shape
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an arrangement of branching parts
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type of:
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arrangement, placement
the spatial property of the way in which something is placed
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arrangement, placement
Word Family
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