variants
also cause celebre
as in celebrity
a person who is widely known and usually much talked about
a cause célèbre from some reality TV show whose fame hadn't even lasted the proverbial 15 minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of cause célèbre
Peters, who is 70 years old, is a cause celebre among those who insist the 2020 election was stolen.
—
Max Potter, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Peters' release has become a cause celebre in the election conspiracy movement.
—CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Their persecution became a cause celebre of the American Evangelical movement, which convinced President George W. Bush’s administration to help broker a peace agreement that led to independence 15 years ago.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 15 Dec. 2025
Their case became a cause celebre and a polarizing one.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2025
Their fight became a cause celebre for the left, with powerful Democratic governors like California’s Gavin Newsom and Illinois’ JB Pritzker joining the cause and many cheering them on.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
But some residents complained they weren’t provided enough information about the project, which became a cause celebre for Republicans who led the way in stoking fears about the prospect of communist infiltration, given the Chinese ownership of the plant’s parent company.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The idea has become a cause celebre in certain circles.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Ever since the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos outside the womb are considered children, the fertility treatment known as in vitro fertilization has become a political cause celebre.
—Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024
Max Potter, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Peters' release has become a cause celebre in the election conspiracy movement.
—CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Their persecution became a cause celebre of the American Evangelical movement, which convinced President George W. Bush’s administration to help broker a peace agreement that led to independence 15 years ago.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 15 Dec. 2025
Their case became a cause celebre and a polarizing one.
—Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2025
Their fight became a cause celebre for the left, with powerful Democratic governors like California’s Gavin Newsom and Illinois’ JB Pritzker joining the cause and many cheering them on.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
But some residents complained they weren’t provided enough information about the project, which became a cause celebre for Republicans who led the way in stoking fears about the prospect of communist infiltration, given the Chinese ownership of the plant’s parent company.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The idea has become a cause celebre in certain circles.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Ever since the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos outside the womb are considered children, the fertility treatment known as in vitro fertilization has become a political cause celebre.
—Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cause célèbre
Noun
-
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
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In the world of celebrity chefs, that kind of dedication is rare.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Lightning entered on a 22-game winning streak, focused on defense and led by a senior point guard worthy of a duel against the Knights’ star point guard.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Will Rogers, a newspaper columnist and vaudeville monologuist—an influencer of the nineteen-tens and twenties—became a movie star who essentially played himself.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 When goals call your name, patience becomes your ally.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
-
In Culiacan, in neighboring Sinaloa state, home to a cartel of the same name, there is a cemetery known for its luxury crypts and mausoleums for one-time kingpins like Ignacio Coronel — an old associate of El Mencho — and Arturo Beltrán Leyva.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Mouse will pony up for personalities that bring eyeballs.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The staff is crisply professional but not afraid to show personality.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Rosen helped make the Dodgers a global juggernaut through their signing of Japanese two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Rose began writing songs in earnest, working behind the scenes to create songs for Latin superstar Becky G and collaborating with Selena Gomez, Bad Bunny and Marc Anthony.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An In Memoriam segment paid tribute to a number of late musical icons, with local hero Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, the former Stone Roses bassist who died in November 2025, recognised by The Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
28 Feb. 2026
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Boys hockey Ethan Guo was the overtime hero in Marlboro’s 6-5 victory over Diman in the Div.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cause célèbre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cause%20c%C3%A9l%C3%A8bre. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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