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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cause célèbre
Noun
-
Some celebrities have gotten mad at him about the interactions, and some of them laugh about it with him.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The manosphere internet celebrity, born Braden Eric Peters, was taken into custody Thursday on a warrant issued by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, according to a Fort Lauderdale Police Department spokesperson.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Republicans will be looking to help Collins in an election year, Shaheen is making a big legacy play in her last year in office, Warnock is a rising Democratic star, and Kennedy brings some heft from the right to the table.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
By the nineteen-eighties, she was basically finished as a movie star.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The red mesh sack, of the kind typically used to store oranges or onions, is stamped with her name, immigration number and date of deportation.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The neighborhood/area Buahan sits on the fringe of a small village with the same name.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
According to Dunn, the small amount of division comes from online personalities such as Tucker Carlson, Matt Gaetz and Steve Bannon.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Of all the criteria the employer has to weigh, including personality and work ethic, the candidate’s ability to do the job carries the most weight.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Among the leading superstars for the past generation, for instance, has been a troika of Muslim men.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Shiffrin will start the season-ending giant slalom on Wednesday 85 ahead of Aicher who must win to deny the American superstar a women’s record-tying sixth overall title in her stellar career.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Carson happened to be the great hero of his childhood.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Prey, an unlikely hero off the bench, finished 4-of-4 on 3-pointers for 12 points.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
28 Mar. 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 1 Apr. 2026.
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