as in stimulus
something that arouses action or activity
Her expulsion from the university proved to be a catalyst for needed change.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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
-
Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran has roiled the global energy markets and sent the cost of gas and jet fuel soaring.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
According to Susana Reyes, Vice President for Chamber and Plant Design, this liquid barrier absorbs neutron flux, generates tritium fuel, and transfers heat while constantly renewing itself.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 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
-
Suresh was a devoted pet mom and donated to animal causes, according to social media.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
-
Investigators have not determined the man's cause of death, but say it was possibly related to a medical condition.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
12 June 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 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
