Effect Synonyms | Uses & Example Sentences
Effect is a noun that means “result.” It can also be a verb meaning “to cause.”
Some synonyms for effect are:
Table of contents
Synonyms for effect
Effect as a noun can imply either a positive or a negative connotation, so it’s often used with an adjective that describes it (e.g., “a good effect,” “a devastating effect.”)
Some synonyms more closely match effect than others. For example, “impact” can often be substituted without changing the sentence structure or meaning. However, “ramification” implies a negative result and is mostly used in the plural, meaning your sentence may need a light rewrite.
QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to use synonyms for effect correctly.
Match | Synonym | Effect example | Synonym example |
---|---|---|---|
Strongest | Impact | The new law had a positive effect on the community. | The new law had a positive impact on the community. |
Consequence | Lung cancer can be a negative effect of smoking. | Lung cancer can be a negative consequence of smoking. | |
Outcome | One positive effect of exercise is a healthier heart. | One positive outcome of exercise is a healthier heart. | |
Influence | The effect of the revolution was evident throughout the country. | The influence of the revolution was evident throughout the country. | |
Strong | Development | One good effect of the meeting was a higher salary for workers. | One good development from the meeting was a higher salary for workers. |
Aftermath | Food prices soared as an effect of the war. | Food prices soared in the aftermath of the war. | |
Fallout | The economic effect of the pandemic was felt across the globe. | The economic fallout of the pandemic was felt across the globe. | |
Ramification | The policy change had far-reaching effects. | The policy change had far-reaching ramifications. | |
Weak | Repercussion | The sudden decision had a lasting effect on their relationship. | The sudden decision had lasting repercussions for their relationship. |
Product | The effect of this experiment was an increase in white blood cells. | The product of this experiment was an increase in white blood cells. | |
By-product | The effect of his actions was clear to everyone. | The by-product of his actions was clear to everyone. |
- In science, effect can mean “phenomenon” (e.g., “the Doppler effect,” or “the Pygmalion effect”).
- In theater and cinema, effect refers to “a technique used to create illusions” (e.g., “special effects” or “a practical effect”).
In these contexts, it’s better to stick with effect and not use synonyms.
Effect is less commonly used as a verb meaning “to cause.” Don’t confuse affect and effect. Affect is a verb meaning “to impact” or “to pretend.”
Match | Synonym | Effect example | Synonym example |
---|---|---|---|
Strongest | Bring about | The new policy will effect major changes in the industry. | The new policy will bring about major changes in the industry. |
Create | The new law effected better working conditions. | The new law created better working conditions. | |
Generate | Their efforts effected a lot of interest in the project. | Their efforts generated a lot of interest in the project. | |
Strong | Achieve | The strategy was designed to effect a smooth transition. | The strategy was designed to achieve a smooth transition. |
Prompt | His speech effected a strong response from the audience. | His speech prompted a strong response from the audience. | |
Enact | The committee effected new regulations for safety. | The committee enacted new regulations for safety. | |
Weak | Implement | We recently effected changes to our hiring process. | We recently implemented changes to our hiring process. |
Realize | She worked hard to effect her vision for the project. | She worked hard to realize her vision for the project. |
Frequently asked questions about effect synonyms
- What’s a synonym for side effect?
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Synonyms for “side effect” include:
- Ramification
- Complication
- Aftereffect
- Reaction
- Aftermath
- Fallout
- By-product
Synonyms for “side effect” overlap with synonyms for effect. QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you use synonyms to best express your intended meaning.
- What’s a synonym for domino effect?
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Some synonyms for “domino effect” are:
- Chain reaction
- Ripple effect
- Cascade
- Snowball effect
- Spillover effect
- Knock-on effect
- Cause and effect
Find more synonyms for “domino effect” or synonyms for effect with QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
- What’s a synonym for negative effect?
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Synonyms for “negative effect” include:
- Fallout
- Ramification
- Repercussion
- Blowback
- Detriment
- Toll
To form more synonyms for “negative effect,” you can choose a synonym of effect and modify it with a negative adjective.
Or use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find synonyms like these.
- What’s a synonym for ripple effect?
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Some synonyms for “ripple effect” are:
- Chain reaction
- Knock-on effect
- Spillover effect
- Cascade
- Snowball effect
- Domino effect
- Cause and effect
Find more synonyms for “ripple effect” or synonyms for effect with QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
- What’s a synonym for cause and effect?
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“Cause and effect” can refer to “the process where cause leads to effect” or “a series of effects, each one caused by the last.”
Some synonyms for “cause and effect” meaning the process are:
- Causality
- Causal relationship
- Connection
- Interconnection
- Chain of circumstance
Some synonyms for “cause and effect” meaning the series are:
- Chain of events
- Train of events
- Ripple effect
- Domino effect
- Snowball effect
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find more synonyms for “cause and effect” or synonyms for effect.