verbs similar to "cause"

1. determine

2. motivate

3. facilitate

4. provoke

5. trigger

6. accout for

7. give rise to

8. contribute to

9. generate

10. induce

11. stimulate

12. bring about

13. lead to

14. spark off 

15. ascribe sth to sth : to believe or say that something is caused by something else

16. spur

17. unleash:to release suddenly a strong, uncontrollable and usually destructive force

18. set off ( a debate) eg. The court's initial verdict in the police officers' trial set off serious riots.