as in waterfalls
a fall of water usually from a great height
the river forms a series of cascades as it drops a total of 200 feet in elevation
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Recent Examples of cascades
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026
Falling from an elegant halterneck, the gown cascades to the floor in tiers and tiers (and more tiers) of ruffled mesh and sequins.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026
Others relish the frisky sounds of sleigh bells and triumphant cascades of horns that embellish so many holiday classics.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The importance of active avoidance To prevent crashes and cascades, satellite companies could adopt a leave no trace standard, which means designing satellites that do not fragment, release debris or endanger their neighbors, and that can be safely removed from orbit.
—Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025
An advisory covers the cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties (including Mount Baker).
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
The resulting sandstone cliffs, canyon rims, wooded highlands, tumbling cascades, and swimming holes are a nature enthusiast’s playground.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Written by the Dusters and Larry Keel, the song’s vulnerable lyrics are boosted in particular by banjoist Chris Pandolfi and dobro player Andy Hall, who serve up blistering cascades of banjo and dobro, alongside bandmates Travis Book (double bass), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Andy Falco (guitar).
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
The summit brings heart-stopping views of glacial valleys, sky-high waterfalls plunging through the rocky cliffs, and cascades of water far below.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
Spot striking tropical flowers, colorful birds, and perhaps even a monkey in the forest canopy around the cascades.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for cascades
Noun
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Hot springs, waterfalls, and gorgeous vista points dot the surrounding mountains, perfect for hours of exploration on foot or by bike.—
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The many waterfalls are fed by rain on par with that of the Pacific Northwest.—
Verb
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The popular First We Feast show, hosted by Sean Evans, streams on YouTube and features celebrities eating chicken wings with progressively spicy hot sauces while answering questions about their lives and careers.—
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Mubi, which distributes indie and foreign films and streams them to millions of monthly subscribers, had been preparing an August premiere for Huang’s documentary Vice Is Broke, which charts the rise and fall of his former employer Vice Media.—
Verb
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Nvidia, for example, depends on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co to fabricate its designs.—
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Insurance expert Karl Susman said the cost of earthquake insurance depends on multiple factors, including the home itself, when it was built, where it's located, and whether it's bolted.—
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Season 2 will focus on three more scenic escapes as Ross jets off to new destinations.—
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Worse, the tariff burden is a regressive tax that falls hardest on lower-income households and small businesses with less bargaining power.—
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There’s nothing as cozy as snuggling up in front of the fire while snow falls peacefully outside.—
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Instead, Miller demands progress reports on his mass-deportation campaign and issues orders to the full alphabet soup of federal enforcement agencies, including the FBI, CBP, ICE, HHS, and the DOD.—
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The calendar turns to 2026 today, and a host of new state laws — 300 or so — take effect that address issues large and not so large.—
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Wilson gushes about Adebayo on Good Morning America.—
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Daphne Nestled among the seafood joints and pub-grub eateries is this little farm-to-table outfit that DePledge gushes over.—
Verb
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Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Cite this Entry
“Cascades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cascades. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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