CATALYST Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

catalyst

noun

Definition of catalyst

as in stimulus

something that arouses action or activity Her expulsion from the university proved to be a catalyst for needed change.

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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 Building the atomic picture The researchers combined several advanced techniques to examine the catalyst from the inside out. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026 Those who are dissatisfied with the way things are are catalysts in the making of a better world. — Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 Using travel as a catalyst, Bowser aims to unearth the unique and underrepresented stories that shape our world. — Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 One tiny decision can act as a huge catalyst for your life path to unfold in a new way. — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalyst

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst

Noun

And Obama was being seen at the time as being completely irresponsible in pursuing stimulus.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
The services economy, more efficient technology, work-from-home policies and strong fiscal stimulus from tax decreases have enabled us to weather short-term oil spikes.

— Dryden Pence, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of stimulus

Noun

Fundraising followed to raise just enough fuel to reach the next milestone.

— Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
These supply-chain upheavals have mounted pressures on certain industries like aviation, where jet fuel costs have soared, and agriculture, which has dealt with shortages of key chemicals used in fertilizers as a result of Strait of Hormuz closures.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of fuel

Noun

For two decades she's turned the science of human behavior into practical tools that help people communicate with confidence.

— Big Think, Big Think, 2 Aug. 2026
Recent incidents expose critical security risks with autonomous AI agents, which act unsupervised using credentials and tools.

— Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of tool

Noun

What used to be just a one-button trigger to call up an app has evolved into a multi-button, multi-input device for supervising and orchestrating multiple AI tools and agents at once.

— Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
Approve the pull request, trigger pipelines in unrelated projects, copy confidential wiki pages into a comment where the attacker could collect them.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of trigger

Noun

Even then, though, the Bulls aren’t married to using the room exception for a rotation player and may prefer to keep it as a trade mechanism to absorb other players’ contracts and draft picks.

— Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Gompers argues those similar numbers likely reflect two different mechanisms.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of mechanism

Noun

The impetus for restructuring Part D was the lack of a cap on patient out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines.

— Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The missing piece Hellerstein had been working on putting together the museum’s Ebbets Field room for about seven years, but Judy’s death was the impetus for completing the project.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 July 2026