Synonyms of cause

cause 1 of 2

verb

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

• create
• bring
• generate
• prompt
• produce
• do
• work
• induce
• spawn
• yield
• effect
• make
• invoke
• effectuate
• result (in)
• bring about
• catalyze
• draw on
• translate (into)
• encourage
• found
• promote
• give rise to
• introduce
• breed
• beget
• engender
• occasion
• bring forth
• bring on
• contribute (to)
• initiate
• determine
• inaugurate
• establish
• launch
• begin
• pioneer
• develop
• start
• decide
• foster
• institute
• render
• cultivate
• further
• conduce (to)
• set up
• forward
• enact
• advance
• set
• turn out
• father
• nurture
• innovate
• nourish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limit
• impede
• restrict
• suppress
• stifle
• quell
• subdue
• quash
• control
• dampen
• crush
• inhibit
• check
• restrain
• smother
• curb
• repress
• put down
• retard
• arrest
• kill
• can
• destroy
• rein (in)
• squelch
• crack down (on)
• squash
• still
• abolish
• clamp down (on)
• extinguish
• liquidate
• quench
• demolish
• snuff (out)

cause

2 of 2

noun

ˈkȯz 

1

as in reason

someone or something responsible for a result

the much-debated causes of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reason
• determinant
• causation
• source
• causality
• antecedent
• occasion
• consideration
• factor
• origin
• impetus
• incentive
• mother
• stimulus
• root
• instigation
• inspiration
• spring
• be-all and end-all
• alpha and omega

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• effect
• result
• issue
• development
• consequence
• product
• outcome
• fruit
• sequence
• fate
• resultant
• aftermath
• outgrowth
• corollary
• sequel
• upshot
• end
• conclusion
• aftereffect
• ramification
• repercussion
• side effect
• denouement
• by-product

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

• movement
• campaign
• push
• crusade
• drive
• project
• initiative
• attack
• march
• juggernaut
• blitz
• bandwagon
• bid
• assault
• mission
• maneuver
• offensive
• action
• undertaking
• enterprise

Example Sentences

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

Continuants will only be granted by agreement or if good cause is shown. — Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

The attorney general says an accusation that Wiles thwarted a MAHA initiative to protect sugar industry contributions isn’t cause for DOJ scrutiny. — Violet Jira, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing cause

• cause celebre
• cause célèbre
• make common cause