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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Recent Examples of catalyst
Pride Month is traditionally held in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City — a pivotal moment that acted as a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.
—
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
So a good catalyst has a large surface area with plenty of sites where the target species can stick and fall apart.
—Chris Lee, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
The biggest near-term catalyst for the cryptocurrency industry could be the CLARITY Act, which would lay out regulatory guidelines and help legitimize the crypto industry.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The deals come at a time when investors are increasingly fixated on AI, both as a stock market catalyst and risk.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
So a good catalyst has a large surface area with plenty of sites where the target species can stick and fall apart.
—Chris Lee, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
The biggest near-term catalyst for the cryptocurrency industry could be the CLARITY Act, which would lay out regulatory guidelines and help legitimize the crypto industry.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
The deals come at a time when investors are increasingly fixated on AI, both as a stock market catalyst and risk.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst
Noun
-
The cerebral circuitry of the human brain—specifically the salience network, which is responsible for filtering stimuli—seems to be more active in individuals with misophonia.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
The ability to disconnect intentionally from these overwhelming stimuli—to reclaim one’s focus, clarity, and feeling of immediacy—has become rare and precious.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Supply disruptions have also hit hard in Europe and Africa, where countries are responding to rising fuel costs and a considerable threat to food security.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
Chemical thrusters burn fuel fast and generate a powerful, rapid thrust that is key for changing orbit in seconds.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
The awards and their accompanying speeches are the best promotional tools potential winners have in their arsenal, especially in an era when Broadway economics have gotten crazier by the year.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
-
The tool, which uses artificial intelligence, could be deployed at airports to bolster wildlife enforcement efforts, the researchers say.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The mother of a security guard killed while working at a Deep Ellum nightclub last month has filed a lawsuit against the club and the man accused of pulling the trigger.—
Erin Jones,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
The immediate trigger for Saturday’s protest was the reported irregularity in a recent exam that quickly became a broader outlet for frustration over India’s education system and limited job opportunities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Multiple investigations at the state and local level are underway to unravel the full cause of the near disaster.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
The staff responds to between 50 and 70 strandings annually, and the typical cause of death is pneumonia, Rust says.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
As per the tests carried on behalf of the company, MST enabled more than a 10x reduction in parasitic channel charge, reducing a key mechanism of RF power loss and supporting improved high-frequency GaN device performance.—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
-
Many schools already have mechanisms in place to limit cellphone use in their buildings.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The beloved 35-year-old Florida Ficus at the entrance is the impetus for the iconic logo.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The impetus of Vanity Fair’s meeting with Nézet-Séguin was the Met’s new production of El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego, a recent work from US composer Gabriela Lena Frank (in her Met debut).—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The Football War Tensions between Central American neighbors El Salvador and Honduras had been building for some time, but the two-game qualifying rounds for the 1970 World Cup provided the sparks for warfare.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
-
Zach and Bryce, however, despite being paired with Kayda Reese Bosse and Trinity Tatum, respectively, continue to share sparks of flirtation.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catalyst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalyst. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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