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

Although many students excel in their academic performance, other students struggle because of language issues, homelessness and other social issues affecting the students but not caused by them. —Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

But on Tuesday, the 53-year-old Moorpark resident reversed course, pleading guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious bodily injury, prosecutors said. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

Noun

Hantavirus previously made headlines last year after being identified as the cause of death of actor Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa, after the couple was found dead at their New Mexico home in February 2025. —ABC News, 8 May 2026

One of the bodies was discovered elsewhere in the Iwate region on Thursday, while another was found in a forest in Yamagata prefecture on Tuesday, police said, without providing the cause of the deaths. —CBS News, 8 May 2026

Phrases Containing cause

• cause celebre
• cause célèbre
• make common cause