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 Seattle’s defense came into Wednesday’s game down two starting safeties in Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada but the unit was the catalyst for getting the team’s first touchdown. — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 The night of the foursome eventually proves the catalyst for Paul Baker and Issa’s mid-season breakup, but that can’t keep her down. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 In this way, the future of IT will be shaped by leaders who shift their mindset from simply deploying AI to truly leveraging it as a catalyst that helps their teams reach their full potential. — Tal Dagan, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 The Jets will need Hall to be a catalyst once again, this time in their new offense under Reich. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalyst

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst

Noun

Analysts, however, expect that Beijing is unlikely to ramp up stimulus meaningfully as long as export growth remains strong enough to power the economy to land within the target range.

— Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
China reported downbeat consumption and investment figures, bolstering economists’ calls for fiscal stimulus to drive growth in the world’s second-biggest economy.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of stimulus

Noun

Instead of dispatching a service van ($150 to $300 in fuel and labor) and navigating traffic, the technician accessed the multitenant dashboard.

— Robert Messer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
According to these measurements, even the fattest of the birds would run out of fuel—body fat and a bit of muscle—after about twenty-five hundred miles.

— Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of fuel

Noun

Avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon, as well as harsh chemicals and abrasive tools, to protect the glaze.

— Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
The country's largest school district now has some of the strictest guidelines around younger students using artificial intelligence tools in school — at least, temporarily.

— Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of tool

Noun

On the one hand, oxidative stress acts as a trigger to tell the body to rebuild and develop mitochondria in the cells — improving an athlete’s endurance capacity.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Because a large Roth conversion in one year can temporarily increase your MAGI to trigger IRMAA later, consider spreading out conversions over multiple years to keep your income below the threshold.

— Miranda Marquit, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of trigger

Noun

The agriculture ministry said the cause of the decline in production was in part due to extreme summer heat waves and intensifying drought across the country that caused sunburn, berry shriveling, and foliage shedding.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2026
The next turn of the screw came in 1933, with a congressional investigation of the causes of the 1929 crash.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of cause

Noun

Overheating or air bubbles cause the mechanism to enter limp mode, circulating fluid without cooling it.

— Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Screening the electron interactions weakened and ultimately eliminated superconductivity, supporting an unconventional mechanism for electron pairing.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of mechanism

Noun

But the original impetus concerned women not having to get their Manolo Blahniks stuck in the mud.

— Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
The Jets have no impetus to rush a trade — and Jets fans are well-versed in Cheveldayoff’s stubborn patience from Jacob Trouba’s 2016 contract holdout and trades involving Evander Kane, Trouba, Patrik Laine and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

— James Mirtle, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026