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 Citi also added a 30-day downside catalyst on Qualcomm on concerns about smartphone shipments. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 6 July 2026 Conviction should not prevent an investor from trimming or exiting once the valuation has absorbed the catalyst. — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Smith, who took over as county sheriff on Wednesday following the retirement of Chris Goetz, didn’t want to speculate about the catalyst of the fire. — Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 6 July 2026 The iconic bunny costume moment, when Elle is tricked into showing up to a non-costume party wearing a Playboy bunny get-up, was the catalyst for exploring how Elle was able to shake that humiliation off. — Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalyst

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst

Noun

But if productivity growth is low, then stimulus just turns into inflation—too many dollars chasing too few goods.

— Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
By integrating smart shades into the components of major smart home ecosystems (those supporting Matter, Thread, Zigbee, or Z-Wave specifically), these systems can react to real-time stimuli.

— K.H. Koehler, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Definition of stimulus

Noun

Use our refresher on indirect grilling, then discover how to grill indirectly using gas as your fuel.

— Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026
Drone strikes and shelling have targeted civilian infrastructure including schools, markets, fuel and water stations, putting over 500,000 people at risk.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of fuel

Noun

People with asthma who use a rescue inhaler should keep it close in case fireworks trigger wheezing or other symptoms, the expert advised.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
In cybersecurity, the equivalent appears when over-aggressive controls lock out real users, isolate healthy services, kill critical processes or trigger cascading operational disruption.

— Abhik Biswas, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of trigger

Noun

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the most popular athletes in the world and even if his presence on the Portuguese national team is cause for international debate, a player like Folarin Balogun has no place in any paragraph with Ronaldo.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Investigators did not disclose further details surrounding the cause and manner of her death.

— Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of cause

Noun

Bright Angel was the first site SHERLOC examined after a dust-cover anomaly disabled its focusing mechanism, forcing the team to adopt a new operating mode.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 4 July 2026
Tianwen-2 carries both a touch-and-go sampling system and an anchor-and-attach mechanism equipped with drills for collecting surface material.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of mechanism

Noun

Whether the impetus is to satisfy a desire for seclusion or to achieve the investment benefits that development allows, these three properties, triangulated across the globe, open up new frontiers and ways of living.

— Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Not much separated these two teams over 90 minutes, with limited attacking impetus and much of the game being played in midfield.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of impetus

Noun

Fireworks spark fires in California Last year, more than 700 fires statewide were related to fireworks, causing nearly $16 million in property damage and scorching hundreds of acres, said State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant.

— Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 July 2026
And yet as cynical and beaten-down as the film’s viewpoint can often be, there is still a spark of decency and perseverance.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026