as in creates
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind)
the ice storm caused a massive power outage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in determinants
someone or something responsible for a result
the much-debated causes of the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in campaigns
a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal
joined the freedom fighters' cause as a young man
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of causes
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
The key question is whether too much money in the private markets causes the private market premium to ultimately disappear.
—Leslie Picker, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
His lower jaw is smaller than his upper one, leaving a small gap that causes a faint odor.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Fission splits the nuclei of atoms to create power while fusion causes hydrogen nuclei to collide and fuse into helium atoms that release incredible amounts of energy — essentially replicating the power of the sun.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
Armadillos carry a high risk among game animals, as the species is known to be the only non-human species to carry mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy, according to the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
This situation causes a struggle for the rest of us.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
What is hand, foot and mouth disease, and what causes it?
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025
But that is only one of the causes, the consultants told CNN.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Fellow comedy legend Reiner, who played the wily Saul Bloom, died in June 2020 at age 98 from natural causes.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
Many previous winners also donated their prize funds to philanthropic causes.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
The actor — who died on April 15, 2020, of natural causes — was famous for roles in films like Tommy Boy, Cocoon and First Blood, as well as television shows like The Blacklist.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Continuously stepping in to save the same lives without addressing the root causes of hunger is not cost-effective.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
After a few more appointments and additional testing to rule out other potential causes, Hamady was started on oral progesterone and estradiol gel.
—Olivia Lee, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
These differences were strongest for external causes of death and for younger age groups.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Although these easy-care plants are relatively flexible about pruning, cutting daylilies back at the wrong time potentially makes your plants bloom less next season and causes other problems, too.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
The key question is whether too much money in the private markets causes the private market premium to ultimately disappear.
—Leslie Picker, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
His lower jaw is smaller than his upper one, leaving a small gap that causes a faint odor.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Fission splits the nuclei of atoms to create power while fusion causes hydrogen nuclei to collide and fuse into helium atoms that release incredible amounts of energy — essentially replicating the power of the sun.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
Armadillos carry a high risk among game animals, as the species is known to be the only non-human species to carry mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy, according to the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida.
—Stuart Dyos, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
This situation causes a struggle for the rest of us.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2025
What is hand, foot and mouth disease, and what causes it?
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
The poppy became such a recognizable symbol for remembrance observances that veterans’ groups started selling paper replicas of the flowers to raise money for veterans’ causes.
—Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025
But that is only one of the causes, the consultants told CNN.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Fellow comedy legend Reiner, who played the wily Saul Bloom, died in June 2020 at age 98 from natural causes.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
Many previous winners also donated their prize funds to philanthropic causes.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
The actor — who died on April 15, 2020, of natural causes — was famous for roles in films like Tommy Boy, Cocoon and First Blood, as well as television shows like The Blacklist.
—Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Continuously stepping in to save the same lives without addressing the root causes of hunger is not cost-effective.
—Arif Husain, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
After a few more appointments and additional testing to rule out other potential causes, Hamady was started on oral progesterone and estradiol gel.
—Olivia Lee, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
These differences were strongest for external causes of death and for younger age groups.
—Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for causes
Verb
-
The research team highlighted that this process creates ideal conditions for atmospheric water vapour to condense into droplets on the cooler surface, the way steam condenses on your bathroom mirror.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Frank creates this Charles Atlas golden god specifically to adore and satisfy him.—
Katie Rife,
Vulture,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Moore suggests focusing on the social determinants of health — providing stable housing and a strong education, for instance — in addition to intervention work.—
Cleo Krejci,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Many infectious diseases are lethal only for the poor; they are layered atop comorbidities and chronic conditions produced by social and commercial determinants of health.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That stark reality forced both sides to wage slash-and-burn propaganda campaigns designed to sow doubt and disinformation among their enemies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Anti-Trump activists are deploying an array of tactics to fight back against the policies of the President and his Administration — protests, marches, events, advocacy campaigns, social media videos.—
Time,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Legal sports betting generates a considerable amount of tax revenue.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Switching to some business talk for a moment, Lazenby confirmed what other executives were buzzing about — that the center generates approximately $4,000 in sales per square foot, to an extent buoyed by strong high and fine jewelry sales.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Human rights organizations have renewed their criticism, airing concerns about the persecution of dissent in a country where more than 800 people are behind bars for political reasons, according to the legal rights organization Foro Penal.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Lea is an Elko protégé and could appeal to PSU for many of the same reasons.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Yet even among a number of Christians seeking to raise awareness and intensify efforts to put an end to systematic abuses committed by Boko Haram and other jihadi movements, the prospect of foreign intervention raises serious concerns.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The findings reveal unexpected plasma flows and magnetic field movements that may reshape current understanding of how the Sun’s magnetic cycle operates.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Paris Agreement hits its 10th anniversary and COP30 brings an important deadline for participating countries to update their emissions reduction plans which, so far have fallen short of the Paris targets.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Crisp bits of bacon add a salty crunch, while the green onion brings a fresh, mild bite.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Goldie, like Bucephalus, seized the bit and galloped into the intoxicating world of knowing, of finding out, of discovering reasons and causations.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Causes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/causes. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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