cause 1 of 2

verb

Definition of causenext
as in to create
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

cause

2 of 2

noun

ˈkȯz How to pronounce cause (audio)
1
as in reason
someone or something responsible for a result the much-debated causes of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in movement
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal joined the freedom fighters' cause as a young man

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cause
Verb
The war has caused hundreds of thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties. — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026 Their protest was said at the time to have caused roughly £10,000 in damage, primarily to the work’s frame, and the two activists subsequently received prison sentences. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
The World Series’ conclusion this week (congrats to the Milwaukee Brewers) is cause for reflection on the sport’s enduring fashion import, the ever-versatile baseball cap. — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026 By then, the board may be examining consequences rather than causes. — David Ribott, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cause
  1. create
  2. reason
  3. movement
  4. bring
  5. determinant
  6. campaign
  7. generate
  8. causation
Verb
  • The deep soaking tub and clear shower stall are set pieces in the room, creating a real open and airy feel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Knight may have been thinking about the film for 16 years, but creating the version that is coming out in 2026 wouldn’t have been possible without all of the learnings spread across films like ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of create
Noun
  • Officials, for example, have not explained whether Young’s administrative leave was related to allegations against him personally, his supervisory responsibilities or another reason.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The Catalan capital has been a popular destination for decades, and with good reason.
    — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Elsewhere, long-running demonstrations in Albania and Serbia have focused more on anti-corruption, spiraling into movements seeking to topple each country’s government.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Young protestors answered with an insurrectionary energy in the summer and soon found support from a broader coalition comprised of opposition parties, social movements and other pillars of Indian civil society.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of movement
Verb
  • We were issued metal water bottles for bringing ashore, and followed strict instructions on not bringing any food off the ship, and disinfecting our boots before and after stepping ashore to keep Antarctica pristine.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • The program brings aircraft developers and public agencies together to test operations before wider deployment.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of bring
Noun
  • The chief determinant of that unlikely success has been not individual genius in the lab, or individual prowess in the boardroom, but collective planning and coördination at a breathtaking scale.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Use Multiple Data Points Wealth indicators provide a partial snapshot of an individual’s financial position and should not be the sole determinant of a donor’s capacity to make a significant gift.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of determinant
Noun
  • The two candidates finalized the arguments of their campaigns on Saturday, as Lula marched along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, while Bolsonaro campaigned in a key battleground state.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The leader, facing a tough re-election battle, has focused much of his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s vote on security.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of campaign
Verb
  • The cyclists cross the state, generating an economic impact estimated at $25 million.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In tests by cybersecurity firm McAfee, a three-second clip was enough to generate a clone with an 85% match to the original speaker.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of generate
Noun
  • The findings show associations, not causation, and our nonrandom sample cannot provide a precise statewide estimate.
    — Sujeong Park, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
  • These actions don’t require settling causation between AI chatbot use and social isolation.
    — Ned Cooper, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of causation

Phrases Containing cause

Browse Nearby Words

causations
cause
cause célèbre
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cause. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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