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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of causes
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Sep. 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.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
However, there isn't strong evidence that blue light causes serious damage to the eyes.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
With both Chrisley parents finally on the outside, the kids reunite them over FaceTime, which causes Todd to break into tears.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
However, the vast majority of these articles aren’t about vaccines but about the harms of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 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.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
About three in four moms say that paying for childcare causes a strain on their family's budget.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Lisa Lake/Getty Images for MoveOn Ben & Jerry's has become known for more than its ice cream, garnering publicity for championing a number of social causes relating to climate change, racial justice and immigration.
—Hugh Cameron
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Nutrafol Skin Clear Skin Nutraceutical is not meant to replace the traditional treatment options that exist, but instead to be one of the tools that can help patients target acne’s causes.
—Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
The Stand Together community partners with changemakers who are tackling the root causes of America’s biggest problems.
—Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Knowlden died Monday of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Eagle, Idaho, her son Kevin Goates told The Hollywood Reporter.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
If the federal government did want to put its resources toward finding the causes of autism, Kennedy would do well to increase funding for large, national studies that follow people for years.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
One of his causes was protecting Alaska’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge from oil interests.
—Steve Chagollan, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
But several studies haven't found a connection, including a recent large study conducted in Sweden, which instead found other causes, such as genetics, may be at the root.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
The exertion from trying to break free from the current causes fatigue as the current continues to pull them out, experts say.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Sep. 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.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Although the shooting causes alarm and triggers police investigations, Serafina initially escapes direct consequences by going into hiding.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
However, there isn't strong evidence that blue light causes serious damage to the eyes.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
With both Chrisley parents finally on the outside, the kids reunite them over FaceTime, which causes Todd to break into tears.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
However, the vast majority of these articles aren’t about vaccines but about the harms of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 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.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
About three in four moms say that paying for childcare causes a strain on their family's budget.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
The chamber has urged Beijing to consider ways to fix the root causes of overproduction and give the private sector a bigger role in major industries such as healthcare where state entities tend to hold a greater sway in China.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Lisa Lake/Getty Images for MoveOn Ben & Jerry's has become known for more than its ice cream, garnering publicity for championing a number of social causes relating to climate change, racial justice and immigration.
—Hugh Cameron
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Nutrafol Skin Clear Skin Nutraceutical is not meant to replace the traditional treatment options that exist, but instead to be one of the tools that can help patients target acne’s causes.
—Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
The Stand Together community partners with changemakers who are tackling the root causes of America’s biggest problems.
—Ryan Stowers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Knowlden died Monday of natural causes at an assisted living facility in Eagle, Idaho, her son Kevin Goates told The Hollywood Reporter.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
If the federal government did want to put its resources toward finding the causes of autism, Kennedy would do well to increase funding for large, national studies that follow people for years.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
One of his causes was protecting Alaska’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge from oil interests.
—Steve Chagollan, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
But several studies haven't found a connection, including a recent large study conducted in Sweden, which instead found other causes, such as genetics, may be at the root.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for causes
Verb
-
The company’s Enterprise Data Cloud creates a unified data storage system across Pure Storage arrays and includes modular non-disruptive upgrades that extend hardware life.—
Thomas Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In these homes, the conflict between budgeting and feeding kids well creates huge psychological stress for parents, which can lead to anxiety and depression, fueling the vicious cycle of stress and unhealthy eating, Beresin said.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
However, FQHCs excel in community trust, long-term patient engagement and navigating complex social determinants of health.—
Dr. Ara J. Baghdasarian,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Kirk helped Trump's presidential campaigns attract young voters.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But as the decades passed, women’s rights campaigns including the #MeToo movement sparked Choi’s determination to overturn her conviction – even if justice only finally came to her as an elderly woman.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
California's cap-and-invest program generates billions through emissions credit auctions.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
-
This generates revenue but that is only part of the story.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Trump claimed without evidence that McEntarfer had manipulated statistics for political reasons.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Housing is one of the reasons anyone in tech will tell you that the industry is thriving in California largely in spite of regulations, not because of them.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, Bilkie said, short-term market movements, like the decline in April, can serve as a reminder to review and rebalance portfolios.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
This may seem like an odd fit, but the Shakers differentiated themselves with their erratic movements (like shaking, hence the name), song, and dance while praying, so the genre proves to be an organic choice.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
All of this brings us back to Bolt, whose prognostication has merit.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The new adaptive refresh rate brings the always-on display feature of the Pro iPhones to the standard iPhone for the first time.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 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 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share