as in stimulus
something that arouses action or activity
Her expulsion from the university proved to be a catalyst for needed change.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 catalyst
Founded by philanthropist and collector Alice Walton (daughter of Sam Walton), the facility has not only attracted visitors from around the world but has also been a catalyst that helped turn the entire metro area into a gallery of sorts.
—
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Will Ferrell, who in 2003 successfully leaped from SNL to the big screen with the Todd Phillips hit Old School, was a catalyst for the golden decade of big comedies that followed.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
No doubt, social media is both a window into how flawed people have always been and a self-perpetuating catalyst for further madness.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Making imperfection its subject, art also can embrace it as an aspect of painterly form, especially if it is regarded as the catalyst for a verbal exploration.
—Moritz Scheper, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
Will Ferrell, who in 2003 successfully leaped from SNL to the big screen with the Todd Phillips hit Old School, was a catalyst for the golden decade of big comedies that followed.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
No doubt, social media is both a window into how flawed people have always been and a self-perpetuating catalyst for further madness.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Making imperfection its subject, art also can embrace it as an aspect of painterly form, especially if it is regarded as the catalyst for a verbal exploration.
—Moritz Scheper, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst
Noun
-
The hope was that a quick jolt of stimulus (delivered without haste) could stir an economic recovery.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The factory is a throwback to a pre-Rust Belt America, providing ~200 jobs, endless pride, and a stimulus that benefits the rest of the local economy.—
Katherine Laidlaw,
HubSpot,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
However, biofuel production might turn this pathway into a tool for renewable energy, since fats can be converted into fuel.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
These black holes are born when massive stars reach the end of their nuclear fuel and can no longer support themselves against their own inward gravitational pull.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In a 2004 study, the United States Institute of Peace said that hundreds of terrorist groups had migrated online, utilizing a tool meant for better communication for often nefarious purposes.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Meeting these expectations has put real strain on automotive retail, challenging dealers to know when to rely on intelligent tools—and when to step in with human expertise.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
How could the Ukraine war trigger Article 5?—
Matt Spetalnick,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Only hours earlier, Hamas had claimed responsibility for a shooting at a Jerusalem bus stop that killed six people, a strike Israeli officials said was a trigger for the bombing.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Investigators will be relying heavily on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner to identify the victim and to figure out the cause of death, police sources said.—
Alex Stone,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Don Lima, always a champion for civic causes, headed up the organization, which became the Italian American Heritage Foundation the following June.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Added to this was a disillusioning disappointment with the mechanisms of the art world.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
It’s not fully fleshed out, but a parallel could be made to the effects of anxiety and trauma, and the unhealthy coping mechanisms that accompany them.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The special teams element is a benefit of the move more than the impetus.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
That’s really what was the first impetus for getting this to be a continuing project.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Mainly, this was the spark of inspiration for Kon to deal with stories that fused fantasy and reality.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Even as the rubble smoldered, a spark of hope was burning brighter.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catalyst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalyst. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share