to make waves

Examples

• All

• The Class of 2013 is already making waves of its own!

  Blog text (19)

• Maybe her father was not really for Hitler, but just someone not wanting to make waves.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Well, it really made waves around the world for all the right reasons.

  The Drew Barrymore Show

• You want to make change for the better, make waves in a better direction.

• Now is not the time to make waves.

  House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

• The Billfish Conservation Act is already making waves around the world, with groups in other countries considering similar measures.

  Blog text (26)

• If you don't want to make waves, be mediocre.

• Here's another Brit making waves.

  Stardust (2020)

• A burgeoning behemoth like the European Union is bound to make waves, and they're washing up on U.S. shores with increasing frequency and impact.

  Academic text (2004)

• What emerges is a quid pro quo system: professors give higher grades, and students accept them and don't make waves.

  Academic text (2003)

Synonyms

R

to rock the boat

vsto make waves

• Informal

20 5.3

Do or say something that causes trouble and upsets other people

causes wider change or controversy beyond just upsetting balance

M

to make a splash

vsto make waves

11 3.9

Get a lot of attention in an exciting way

focuses more on causing change or controversy rather than mere notice

S

to stir the pot

vsto make waves

• Informal

8 8.0

To cause trouble by saying things to make people argue

creates significant change or attention, not only deliberate provocation

C

to cause a stir

vsto make waves

6 4.0

Make people feel excited or upset and attract attention

implies a larger change or deliberate challenge, not just attention

S

to spark a firestorm

vsto make waves

1 7.0

To cause many people to show strong public anger or criticism

can cause lasting change or challenge rather than only a brief outburst

C

to create quite a sensation

vsto make waves

1 5.6

To cause a lot of public interest and excitement

signals notable change or disturbance, not only public excitement

Antonyms

C

to conform

96 3.2

Think and act like other people or follow rules

How Disruptive

to revolutionize

55 6.6

to shake up

41 4.2

to make waves

• Informal

12 4.9

to ruffle some feathers

• Informal

9 7.2

to raise eyebrows

5 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology