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
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.
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Recent Examples of cause
Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
This set up a cold draft that negatively affected the plants, causing some formerly unexplained rot over the winter.
—Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
Matthew Binnicker, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
There is currently no information about the containment efforts for the fire and its cause has not yet been determined.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cause
Verb
Unspoken workplace rules cause miscommunication and disconnection.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
This set up a cold draft that negatively affected the plants, causing some formerly unexplained rot over the winter.
—Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
Understanding Lyme disease—its causes, symptoms, testing, and prevention—could make the difference between a quick recovery and years of chronic health problems.
—Matthew Binnicker, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
There is currently no information about the containment efforts for the fire and its cause has not yet been determined.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cause
Verb
-
Complete the Look Banana Republic Factory Linen-Blend Quilted Jumpsuit A set of coveralls like this linen-blend style can create a stylish no-fuss outfit.—
Rylee Johnston,
People.com,
27 July 2025
-
To bring Rocky to life, the directors opted for practical effects over CGI, creating a Rocky puppet.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
Law enforcement determined the child is not a runaway, and a custody dispute is not the sole reason for requesting an activation.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
-
The top reason students opt not to pursue higher education is cost, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board states, though having a degree can drastically increase earnings.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Revelations about President Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and demands that the Justice Department release further documentation about the Epstein case, have sent shockwaves through the MAGA movement.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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Many modern employee benefits, including the 40-hour workweek, paid time off, sick leave and workplace safety, were made possible through the labor movement.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Every day brings a new word, and everyone around the world is trying to solve the same puzzle.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The coffin was finally loaded into the white hearse, which would bring Islam to his final resting place.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Citing similar cases to Reyes’, Sun said access to immigration lawyers is a major determinant of outcome.—
Jia H. Jung,
Mercury News,
16 July 2025
-
Forward guidance will be the main determinant of whether these laggards can assume leadership or if earnings growth leader Technology continues to dominate the market.—
Randy Watts,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Hogan said he was prompted to get involved in the campaign after Trump was shot in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
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Twenty-seven years ago, Armageddon benefited from a marketing campaign that left a lasting impression.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Control rods are used to control the speed of the reactions that generate nuclear fission, and in turn nuclear energy.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
26 July 2025
-
The German champions are the fifth-highest-earning club in world football, according to Deloitte, and consistently profitable, generating a £135m pre-tax surplus in the past five seasons.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The timing of autism diagnosis often coincides with the vaccination schedule, but correlation does not mean causation.—
Tim Ryan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
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The author notes neuroscientist Antonio Damasio’s work with a patient known as EVR, whose case involved the latter causation: as described in the article, brain surgery changed EVR’s social and emotional intelligence.—
Aaron Shattuck,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cause. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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