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

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Recent Examples of catalyst However, analysts identified five catalysts to drive outperformance and a multiple re-rating. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026 The Iran war is shaping up to be the catalyst of a seismic shift in Africa’s energy sector. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Yaroslavsky also described the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival as a catalyst for Los Angeles’ cultural growth. — Jane Horowitz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 For one, the stability of the peptide bonds means that reactions wouldn’t take place without an effective catalyst. — ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalyst

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst

Noun

China’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter thanks to the country’s powerful export machine, with domestic consumption still lagging and the authorities showing little interest in fiscal stimulus.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Visual stimuli produced more activity in the superficial layers of the superior colliculus.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of stimulus

Noun

That pulse crushes the fuel, driving its atoms to unite and release their own huge amount of energy, whose nature and effects scientists can study.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The investment was intended to support reactor design, licensing, and development of a nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fuel

Noun

Unions can also be powerful tools for combating racial pay discrimination; the new report shows tripling union membership would narrow the racial wage gap by more than a third.

— Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Together, the tools could help accelerate the development of more resilient electric motor systems while reducing the risks associated with critical material shortages, volatile supply chains and rapidly changing global markets.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of tool

Noun

The trigger for lithium-ion battery fires is a process called thermal runaway, a cascading sequence of heat-releasing reactions inside the battery cell.

— Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Locals and tourists calling Luna’s name or chasing her trigger her fight-or-flight response and drive the dog further into the park, Boucher said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of trigger

Noun

As my colleague Clare Malone has reported in this magazine, Weiss first came to public attention in college, as a consequence of her support for Israel and consistent denigrations of the Palestinian cause.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
The cause of the blaze remains unclear, but a large number of patients have been taken to the hospital.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of cause

Noun

It was subsequently formalized through a trilateral mechanism involving Qatar, Israel, and the United Nations, designed to administer the aid with international and Israeli oversight.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
In reality, the additional twelve teams added a a justification mechanism to the postseason, given how many schools are spending over $30 million per year just to piece together a roster good enough to contend for a playoff spot.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of mechanism

Noun

The impetus for Whalefall came from a viral video in which a kayaker ended up in the mouth of a whale.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
So, if your travels find you in Milan before 2027 kicks off, consider this your impetus to go ahead and book that room.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of impetus

Noun

People were urged to exercise extreme caution with any outdoor activities involving fire or potential sparks.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Already sporting offers from Illinois and Michigan, Holcomb has provided a huge spark offensively for Brother Rice (6-2, 1-1), according to senior receiver Lucas Strang.

— Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026