Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of cause

28 similar words · 7 opposite words

Another word for cause is reason. Other synonyms of cause are occasion, principle, object, genesis and basis. The opposite of cause is effect.

Synonyms and similar words for cause

nounThe source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

  • basis
  • genesisThe origin, start, or point at which something comes into being.

nounSufficient reason.

nounA goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.

nounA suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or...

  • litigationThe conduct of a lawsuit.
  • actionA charge or other process in a law court (also called lawsuit and actio).
  • lawsuitIn civil law, a case where two or more people disagree and one or more of the parties take the case to a court for...
  • suitThe attempt to gain an end by legal process; a process instituted in a court of law for the recovery of a right or...

nounMore synonyms

  • germ figuratively
  • origin
  • principleA source, or origin; that from which anything proceeds; fundamental substance or energy; primordial substance; ultimate...
  • reasonThat which causes something: an efficient cause, a proximate cause.
  • root figuratively
  • source

Opposite of cause

nounThe source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

nounMore antonyms

Meaning of cause

  1. noun The source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.
  2. noun Sufficient reason.
  3. noun A goal, aim or principle, especially one which transcends purely selfish ends.

Full definition of cause

cause in other languages

Questions about synonyms of cause

What is another word for cause?
Cause has 28 synonyms on Word.ws, such as reason, occasion, principle, object, genesis, basis and source.
What is the opposite of cause?
The opposite of cause is effect. Other antonyms of cause are consequence and result.
What does cause mean?
Cause means the source of, or reason for, an event or action; that which produces or effects a result.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: cause (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of cause.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/cause. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.