causal agent

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

causal agent - any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results causal agency, cause physical entity - an entity that has physical existence individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" agent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents" nature - a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women" occult, supernatural - supernatural forces and events and beings collectively; "She doesn't believe in the supernatural" theurgy - the effect of supernatural or divine intervention in human affairs first cause, prime mover, primum mobile - an agent that is the cause of all things but does not itself have a cause; "God is the first cause" destiny, fate - the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman); "we are helpless in the face of destiny" catalyst - something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country" deus ex machina - any active agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an insoluble difficulty manipulator, operator - an agent that operates some apparatus or machine; "the operator of the switchboard" power, force - one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "the mysterious presence of an evil power"; "may the force be with you"; "the forces of evil" life principle, vital principle - a hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed engine - something used to achieve a purpose; "an engine of change" cause of death, killer - the causal agent resulting in death; "heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States" danger - a cause of pain or injury or loss; "he feared the dangers of traveling by air" agent - a substance that exerts some force or effect