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The First Gulf War really had a catalytic effect in shaping how China thought about its own military modernization program.—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026 Instead of a mass shooting, which served as the big catalytic event last time around, there’s a water park that suffers the collapse of several key structures.—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026 The exchange proved catalytic, with Yannitto bringing the vocabulary of contemporary textile practice into contact with the weavers’ extensive existing knowledge.—María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026 Houdry’s catalytic invention couldn’t work with leaded gasoline, and it hadn’t been tested in tough conditions, such as freezing cold or sweltering heat.—Ann E. Carlson, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalytic