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 The taking of the NFC North finally happened last winter, at the end of Poles’ fourth season and with Johnson as a catalyst. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Iran analyst Benny Sabti also told Fox News Digital that deteriorating living conditions could become a catalyst for broader unrest. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The catalyst for improving the life conditions of Americans, our hemisphere, and everyone in the world, is to massively expand energy production around the world. — Willa Rubin, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 PGMs are vital to hydrogen technology, acting as catalysts in fuel cells to power electric vehicles. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalyst

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst

Noun

Shape-memory polymers can be programmed to return to a particular shape after exposure to a stimulus, often heat.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Surrounded by the healing landscape of the Sonoran Desert, the luxe getaway has welcomed travelers seeking to put aside digital overload and other overwhelming stimuli in order to reconnect with the best versions of themselves.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of stimulus

Noun

Firefighters used foam from specialized airport firefighting units to extinguish the fire, and crews were still dealing with a fuel leak on the plane hours later.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Higher fuel prices didn’t stop Americans from hitting the road this summer, but did end a multi-year streak of big spikes in travel.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 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

Definition of impetus

Noun

The failure can expose metal from the wheel or other vehicle components, which can scrape against pavement and create sparks or intense heat.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
For three years now, many have feared that Hezbollah’s war with Israel could be the spark that lights the tinderbox.

— Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026