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
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.
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Recent Examples of cause
IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
These ready-to-eat products had Listeria monocytogenes contamination, which can cause listeriosis and listeriosis poisoning.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the collapse.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cause
Verb
But the helicase acts like a brake, causing the molecule to go through with a ratcheting motion, one base at a time, at a still-lively rate of about 400 bases per second.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
These ready-to-eat products had Listeria monocytogenes contamination, which can cause listeriosis and listeriosis poisoning.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
Some causes of bud drop are out of your control.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
An investigation has been launched into the cause of the collapse.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cause
Verb
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The Department of Homeland Security has detained hundreds of TPS holders from Venezuela nationwide, creating confusion about how the protections are being applied.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Democrats want to overturn spending cuts Republicans approved earlier in the year for Medicaid, which provides health insurance for Americans living in or near poverty, and extend insurance subsidies created by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Voters also tend to lean more nationalist and conservative during economic downturns, said Hajime Kidera, a professor at Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics – which is one reason Abe was so popular during the post-recession early 2010s.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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The executive branch does not normally use the shutdown as a reason for layoffs.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Milei, who has led the country since December 2023, is now facing off against several threats to his free market movement, including the recent electoral successes of his Peronist rivals and a depletion of his country’s foreign reserves.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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What started as a small collaboration grew into a global movement, now marked each year by millions who wear pink ribbons, participate in walks, and push for advances in research and early detection.—
Dr. Noor Shaik,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The lightweight and compact kit is easy to bring along while traveling or tuck away in a closet at home.—
Christine Persaud,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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This work, like the word ‘amalgam’ in the title, just brings it all together.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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So, while a rate cut may improve market sentiment, the calculator will be the biggest determinant in your willingness to seal the deal on such an important investment.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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Moore suggests focusing on the social determinants of health — providing stable housing and a strong education, for instance — in addition to intervention work.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Bukele had been waging a harassment campaign against El Faro, which had aggressively covered corruption in his government.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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Beckham finished his rookie campaign with 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns through 12 games.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The chain is generating the same reaction in Finneytown, a suburban Cincinnati neighborhood where a new Dutch Bros on Winton Road is causing locals to pick sides.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
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Simply put, humans cannot survive without generating pollution.—
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, lawyers will have to prove causation, which hasn't yet been established.—
Sydney Lupkin,
NPR,
29 Sep. 2025
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As such, nutritional research is often observational, with health records pulled from large datasets like the UK Biobank, where only correlation, not causation, can be demonstrated.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cause. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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