Synonyms of causes

causes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cause

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

• creates
• generates
• brings
• prompts
• produces
• does
• spawns
• works
• induces
• yields
• effects
• invokes
• makes
• catalyzes
• brings about
• occasions
• begets
• engenders
• translates (into)
• breeds
• encourages
• results (in)
• brings on
• promotes
• gives rise to
• effectuates
• introduces
• brings forth
• draws on
• initiates
• contributes (to)
• founds
• determines
• begins
• launches
• develops
• inaugurates
• starts
• establishes
• institutes
• decides
• fosters
• fathers
• renders
• conduces (to)
• cultivates
• furthers
• advances
• sets up
• enacts
• turns out
• nourishes
• pioneers
• sets
• nurtures
• innovates
• forwards

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• limits
• restricts
• impedes
• suppresses
• inhibits
• controls
• arrests
• stifles
• dampens
• crushes
• represses
• retards
• subdues
• curbs
• checks
• squashes
• restrains
• reins (in)
• smothers
• kills
• puts down
• destroys
• quells
• squelches
• quashes
• cracks down (on)
• abolishes
• clamps down (on)
• extinguishes
• cans
• quenches
• stills
• liquidates
• demolishes
• snuffs (out)

causes

2 of 2

noun

plural of cause

1

as in determinants

someone or something responsible for a result

the much-debated causes of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• determinants
• reasons
• causations
• antecedents
• causalities
• sources
• factors
• occasions
• considerations
• origins
• stimuli
• incentives
• mothers
• impetuses
• inspirations
• springs
• be-all and end-alls
• roots
• instigations
• alpha and omegas

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• effects
• issues
• consequences
• results
• products
• outcomes
• developments
• fruits
• sequences
• ramifications
• resultants
• aftereffects
• corollaries
• fates
• outgrowths
• sequels
• repercussions
• aftermaths
• upshots
• conclusions
• ends
• side effects
• denouements
• by-products

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

• campaigns
• movements
• pushes
• crusades
• drives
• initiatives
• projects
• actions
• attacks
• marches
• bandwagons
• juggernauts
• bids
• assaults
• maneuvers
• blitzes
• missions
• enterprises
• offensives
• undertakings

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of causes

Verb

Similarly, during construction, heavy machinery causes soil compaction, temporary dust and noise pollution, which can further disorient wildlife, by changing local ecosystems and altering conditions for plants, ground-dwelling species and insects. — Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Measles hospitalizes nearly 10% of its victims and causes pneumonia, sepsis and potentially fatal encephalitis. — Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026

Hollander said that if a driverless Waymo causes an accident, legal approaches may shift away from driver negligence. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026

The disease causes severe diarrhea and nausea for a few days or up to a couple months. — Jaewon Kang, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Sea monster Charybdis lives across from Scylla and causes destruction and death by acting as a massive whirlpool. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

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, 15 July 2026

In May, authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda declared outbreaks after lab tests detected the spread of Bundibugyo virus, which causes a type of Ebola disease. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Detergent overdosing also leaves behind a film on the inside of the washer, which feeds mold and causes odors. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Noun

While both a gall and a burl result from excessive cell division, the causes are very different. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Beekeepers reported that the primary causes of death were parasites, pathogens, exposure to pesticides and inadequate nutrition. — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 25 July 2026

If none of these causes resonate, there are more common causes, including water quality (particularly hard water), as well as underlying health issues like hypothyroidism. — Dominic Cadogan, Glamour, 25 July 2026

After she was pronounced dead, medical staff conducted a preliminary examination that indicated her death may not have been from natural causes, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

Grande has been a longtime advocate for causes at the center of her philanthropy. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

Over the years, many death row inmates have died of natural causes before their executions are carried out. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 24 July 2026

While norovirus, salmonella, and campylobacter are more common causes of diarrheal illness, cyclosporiasis is distinct. — Matthew Binnicker, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

And, the most common causes of cirrhosis are chronic hepatitis C, chronic alcoholism and long-term, heavy drinking. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 July 2026