as in creates
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
the ice storm caused a massive power outage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in determinants
someone or something responsible for a result
the much-debated causes of the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in campaigns
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
joined the freedom fighters' cause as a young man
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of causes
Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Feb. 2026
How can anybody be that jealous and what causes it?
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Sun scorch, on the other hand, typically causes plant leaves to wilt, discolor, or turn crispy.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
How can anybody be that jealous, and what causes it?
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Boiling and blanching causes the greatest loss of water-soluble nutrients, like vitamin C.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026
Duesberg kept making his argument well after evidence that the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, causes AIDS became incontestable.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
According to Tuff, what causes leaders to miss these paradigm shifts is not ignorance but hesitation.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Permafrost thaw also causes structural challenges.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
The network is materially supplied through small-dollar donations and sizable grants earmarked for social justice causes.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Powell needs to address underlying causes, not just symptoms.
—Annelise Riles, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
She is remembered as a gifted painter and skillful in pastels, in addition to being an avid supporter of philanthropic causes and frequent golfer, finding both love and frustration in the sport, her family says.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 4 Feb. 2026
After researching causes of kidney cancer, Silva decided to have her home tested for mold.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
The San Francisco investor and longtime backer of progressive political causes has spent more than $27 million since entering the race last fall, according to the California Secretary of State’s website, which disclosed new filings this week.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
McLemore died Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas, a publicist announced.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Its mandate spans medical care, benefits processing under the Havana Act, research, and coordination with investigative elements examining potential causes.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
But one recent study published in JAMA Cardiology uncovered some potentially lifesaving guidance that could help women with aortic regurgitation—a common condition where the heart’s valve doesn’t close properly and causes blood to flow backward and fill the left ventricle—receive treatment sooner.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Feb. 2026
How can anybody be that jealous and what causes it?
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
Sun scorch, on the other hand, typically causes plant leaves to wilt, discolor, or turn crispy.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2026
How can anybody be that jealous, and what causes it?
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Boiling and blanching causes the greatest loss of water-soluble nutrients, like vitamin C.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026
Duesberg kept making his argument well after evidence that the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, causes AIDS became incontestable.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
According to Tuff, what causes leaders to miss these paradigm shifts is not ignorance but hesitation.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Permafrost thaw also causes structural challenges.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Missouri offers a slew of specialty plates that range from supporting professional sports teams like the Chiefs to causes or organizations such as breast cancer awareness and the Eagle Scouts.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
The network is materially supplied through small-dollar donations and sizable grants earmarked for social justice causes.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Powell needs to address underlying causes, not just symptoms.
—Annelise Riles, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
She is remembered as a gifted painter and skillful in pastels, in addition to being an avid supporter of philanthropic causes and frequent golfer, finding both love and frustration in the sport, her family says.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 4 Feb. 2026
After researching causes of kidney cancer, Silva decided to have her home tested for mold.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
The San Francisco investor and longtime backer of progressive political causes has spent more than $27 million since entering the race last fall, according to the California Secretary of State’s website, which disclosed new filings this week.
—Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
McLemore died Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas, a publicist announced.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Its mandate spans medical care, benefits processing under the Havana Act, research, and coordination with investigative elements examining potential causes.
—Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for causes
Verb
-
Sandra Hernández, president of the California Health Care Foundation, said the federal legislation creates administrative hurdles, requiring Medicaid beneficiaries to meet new work or income requirements and to undergo the eligibility re-determination process every six months instead of annually.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
That urgency creates the perfect conditions for fraud.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In a new secondary analysis of the larger trial published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Patti and her colleagues asked how different social determinants of health affected outcomes after bariatric surgery compared to medical therapy for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
19 Jan. 2026
-
This research suggests that social determinants of health, including financial stress and food insecurity, may belong in the same conversation.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Both Ahmed and Khot described their ad campaigns as costing in the six figures.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
But there are also advertising campaigns and non-linear TV activations planned from Svedka, Smirnoff and Don Julio.—
John Kell,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Public estimates suggest the company generates roughly US$3 million in annual revenue and employs about 25 people.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This causes a blast of high-energy radiation called a gamma-ray burst (GRB), a final screech of gravitational waves, and sends out a spray of neutron-rich matter, which allows a process to occur that generates very heavy but unstable elements.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For these reasons, snow mushrooms are a good choice for dry skin but can also be appropriate for all skin types.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said the forklift program stands out for many reasons.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Once markets started moving lower, thin liquidity intensified such price movements, according to several analysts who provided input for this article.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed amid mostly modest movements in Europe following some sharper swings in Asia.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Amazon’s staggering jobs cuts this week, the second wave since October, brings the commerce giant’s recent layoffs to roughly 9% of its corporate workforce.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
On top of clarity, this lunation brings recognition or closure, particularly for a long-term professional goal.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Goldie, like Bucephalus, seized the bit and galloped into the intoxicating world of knowing, of finding out, of discovering reasons and causations.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Causes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/causes. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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