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 This capability is especially valuable for catalyst research. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026 Profound internal shifts act as catalysts for bold moves in the outer world. — Usa Today, USA Today, 27 July 2026 But at the end of the day, food is a catalyst for conversation and camaraderie. — Claire Hall, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026 Williams has been a catalyst for the cause, even without knowing what women’s sports would face after ten years following those comments. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 July 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

And, crucially, removing fuel is the only element of the natural factors affecting the spread of a wildfire that humans can control.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
After spending months negotiating a pricey purchase of the private fuel yard that keeps PortMiami ships running, two top deputies to Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava were shocked when their boss abruptly rejected the deal.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 July 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

Federal grants can’t be canceled without cause, and the reliability of that funding was crucial, Miller said.

— Lisa Song, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Additional hormone testing helps identify the underlying cause, and your doctor may order more tests to rule out other medical conditions.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026

Definition of cause

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