Thesaurus results for 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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

causes

2 of 2

noun

plural of cause

as in determinants

someone or something responsible for a result the much-debated causes of the war

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in campaigns

a series of activities undertaken to achieve a goal joined the freedom fighters' cause as a young man

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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

Verb

Mail and Paper Piles Leaving mail and stacks of paper on coffee tables, console tables, and end tables is distracting and causes a conflict between relaxation and productive tasks, which Lee notes are two things that don't go together. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026 Enter Tangle Teezer The Complete Carebrush, a first-of-its kind brush that causes 70% less breakage on all hair types compared to standard hairbrushes, according to independent testing. — Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Alexa Frank thought the small, pink, flaky spot on her nose was an acne scar or eczema, a condition that causes dry, itchy skin. — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026 All of these conditions are driven by climate change, which makes wildfires burn hotter and faster and causes more severe storms. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026 However, scaling these materials up from tiny laboratory chips to commercial panels usually causes major power losses. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026 The extra nitrogen a tree receives causes new, leafy canopy growth very quickly, which can make the tree more vulnerable to pests. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 15 Aug. 2026 According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition causes a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 Ordinarily, the subtle tilt in the moon's orbit causes its shadow to pass just below, or above our planet, missing it entirely. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Noun

According to health professionals, declining vaccination rates, declining immunity and slow public health monitoring systems are the main causes of the most recent increase in cases. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 The show’s original idea of a peaceful city built underground to avoid the devastating global disaster is a bit far-fetched, but the causes behind a global crisis aren’t. — Michael Schneider, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 The remaining 75% died from noncardiovascular causes, and patients with any level of CAC were two to three times more likely to have died from any cause. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026 Democratic candidates and organizations continue to use ActBlue, which reportedly processed $586 million for Democratic candidates, causes, and groups during the second quarter of 2026. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026 The World Health Organization lists schizophrenia among the top 10 leading causes of disability. — Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 But in my experience, the causes are usually strategic rather than technical. — Mohamed Khater, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Little is known about the causes of the disease, and there is no cure. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 Nina Smith, a former Buttigieg adviser who now works closely with progressive causes, disagreed. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for causes

Verb

Lanterns wastes little time explaining this backstory ad nauseam and instead creates an immediately inviting dynamic between him and Hal, who comes to him demanding information on Manhunters.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Nobody likes an audit, but some oversight of activity creates confidence in the tax administration system.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of creates

Noun

One of us is a social epidemiologist who studies the social and structural determinants of health, and the other is a prevention scientist who studies risk and protective factors among young people.

— Jonathan Wright, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
The article emphasizes that daily life conditions and behaviors within the home, not just clinic visits, are primary determinants of well-being.

— Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of determinants

Noun

Social media, microtrends, ad campaigns and the rise of secondhand shopping are all factors that can test a brand’s strength.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
The new measure comes as Moscow and Kyiv ramp up their air campaigns, with Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory sparking fuel shortages and bringing the war closer to home for ordinary Russians.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of campaigns

Verb

What’s more, Fox News is, like the rest of the cable-news sector, entering into a news cycle that often generates bigger audiences and more attention.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
The Elena unit generates both heat and electricity using thermoelectric materials rather than moving steam turbines.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of generates

Noun

This increase happens for two reasons — both tied to the fact that El Niño is characterized by warmer than average ocean temperatures in the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Less than a week after our Zoom conversation with Knapp, an unrelated Good Good collab went viral for all of the wrong reasons.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of reasons

Noun

The Pacific Street entrance would allow full turning movements, while the Midas Avenue entrance would be limited to right turns in and out.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
The uneven nature seen by ALMA is likely the result of massive convective movements in the star, hot plasma rising through the star and generating shockwaves that erupt in the star's atmosphere, creating bright and hot regions.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026