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
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Recent Examples of cause célèbre
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
In fact, he’s become an unexpected new conservative cause celebre as a growing contingent of commentators take his side.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday in the case of Daniel Penny, who has become a cause celebre for some of President-elect 's closest allies.
, a 26-year-old former Marine, is charged in a New York state court with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide.
—Sean O'Driscoll, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
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
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
In fact, he’s become an unexpected new conservative cause celebre as a growing contingent of commentators take his side.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday in the case of Daniel Penny, who has become a cause celebre for some of President-elect 's closest allies.
, a 26-year-old former Marine, is charged in a New York state court with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide.
—Sean O'Driscoll, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
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
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The White Lotus breakout star and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television, Aimee Lou Wood, held hands with her beau Adam Long.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
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Kittle is one of many 49ers stars to be injured this season and unable finish the biggest game of the season.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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HotHands is the most recognizable name in disposable warmers for a reason.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
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This year’s list of candidates previously lacked huge names like last year’s headliners, Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Over the course of his life, Reagan worked as a clothing salesman, actor, radio personality, author, and political commentator.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
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But his personality is different.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The road to Super Bowl LX continues with the NFC Wild Card with two conference powerhouses going head-to-head with superstar quarterbacks, the 49ers’ Brock Purdy and the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, leading the way to advance their teams to the NFL Divisional Round.—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Jan. 2026
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Last October, superstar Shawn Mendes invited Xiuhtezcatl to share the stage at the Hollywood Bowl to highlight Native American voices and raise awareness for #LANDBACK and Indigenous rights.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Everyone needs a Scott Boland, the unsung hero of Australia’s 2025-26 Ashes win.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Sure, playing Kingo, the buff immortal hero moonlighting as a Bollywood star in 2021’s Eternals — the first South Asian superhero in a Marvel movie, by the way — required a (now-viral) physical transformation.—
Kylie Gilbert,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 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 13 Jan. 2026.
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