cause 1 of 2

verb

Definition of causenext
as in to create
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

cause

2 of 2

noun

ˈkȯz How to pronounce cause (audio)
1
as in reason
someone or something responsible for a result the much-debated causes of the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in movement
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 cause
Verb
The health emergency caused demand for fuel to crash to the point that the world ran out of room to store oil, a phenomenon that briefly drove crude oil futures below zero for the first time ever. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 The probe adds to mounting scrutiny that the AI companies have been facing over their safety and security practices, especially after industry researchers warned that advanced models could cause catastrophic harm. — Ashley Capoot,jordan Novet,annie Palmer,lora Kolodny,kai Nicol-Schwarz,caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
Throughout October thousands joined the cause in Delhi and other Indian cities, their marches spurred by anger directed against an ongoing national exercise to overhaul the country’s electoral register. — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026 Griffin’s contributions highlight the role wealthy donors play in Florida politics, where political committees can raise substantial sums to support candidates and causes. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cause
  1. create
  2. reason
  3. movement
  4. bring
  5. determinant
  6. campaign
  7. generate
  8. causation
Verb
  • The deep soaking tub and clear shower stall are set pieces in the room, creating a real open and airy feel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Knight may have been thinking about the film for 16 years, but creating the version that is coming out in 2026 wouldn’t have been possible without all of the learnings spread across films like ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of create
Noun
  • All the more reason for leaders to play the generosity sweepstakes in ways that are advantageous to them.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • For that reason, Everett’s proposal is known as the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Elsewhere, long-running demonstrations in Albania and Serbia have focused more on anti-corruption, spiraling into movements seeking to topple each country’s government.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Young protestors answered with an insurrectionary energy in the summer and soon found support from a broader coalition comprised of opposition parties, social movements and other pillars of Indian civil society.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of movement
Verb
  • Tariffs cannot build a better car The problem is, protection alone cannot make an American factory more productive, lower the cost of a battery, or bring a better vehicle to market.
    — Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As the first Laika movie explicitly set in Portland, the studio looked for inspiration in their own backyards for how to bring the universe of Colin Meloy's titular novel to life.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of bring
Noun
  • The chief determinant of that unlikely success has been not individual genius in the lab, or individual prowess in the boardroom, but collective planning and coördination at a breathtaking scale.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Use Multiple Data Points Wealth indicators provide a partial snapshot of an individual’s financial position and should not be the sole determinant of a donor’s capacity to make a significant gift.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of determinant
Noun
  • The two candidates finalized the arguments of their campaigns on Saturday, as Lula marched along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, while Bolsonaro campaigned in a key battleground state.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The leader, facing a tough re-election battle, has focused much of his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s vote on security.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of campaign
Verb
  • The cyclists cross the state, generating an economic impact estimated at $25 million.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In tests by cybersecurity firm McAfee, a three-second clip was enough to generate a clone with an 85% match to the original speaker.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of generate
Noun
  • Both lines of work are early, unanswered questions remain, and neither establishes causation yet.
    — Holly Baines, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Observational data can show correlation — that people taking GLP-1s were perhaps more likely to have this eye complication occur — but not causation.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of causation

Phrases Containing cause

Browse Nearby Words

causations
cause
cause célèbre
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Cite this Entry

“Cause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cause. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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