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 Several sources – spouses, service members and former military officials familiar with personnel decisions – said Lenio’s video was a clear catalyst. — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026 The city promoted the idea of having the World Cup serve as a catalyst for business opportunities, perhaps companies moving a headquarters or opening a second headquarters in Kansas City. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026 ActBlue and WinRed, two major grassroots fundraising platforms, are a major catalyst for out-of-state fundraising. — Rahul Mukherjee, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026 But Zubairu rejected criticism that Lobito is just about shipping African resources out of the continent, telling Semafor that the corridor would be a catalyst for industrialization across Angola, Zambia, and neighboring DR Congo. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catalyst

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst

Noun

Even seemingly small increases—like switching from 10-pound to 12-pound dumbbells, for example—can provide enough of an effective stimulus to build strength without over-stressing your body.

— Jenessa Connor, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026
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

Definition of stimulus

Noun

Their findings, published in Langmuir, could help address the challenges the industry faces with conventional liquid and gel propellants, including fuel movement inside tanks and pumping fuel into engines.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
The announcement on Monday threw fuel on the fire to push Sacramento politicians to do more to help out the Golden State’s most iconic industry.

— Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fuel

Noun

The teams intend to deploy artificial intelligence and digital engineering tools to model plant operations.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Democrats will now have powerful new tools to investigate the administration’s actions and push back on its agenda.

— Sarah Todd, STAT, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of tool

Noun

The group notes that retinoids, retinol and benzoyl peroxide already increase sensitivity, so adding an exfoliant on top can worsen dryness or trigger breakouts.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026
An acceptable component rejected unnecessarily may trigger reinspection, delay production or consume an engineer’s attention.

— Rajesh Iyengar, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of trigger

Noun

As a cause of death, hyperthermia often is diagnosed by excluding every other possibility, since body temperature at the time of death is not always available or knowable.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
France, Italy, Serbia and Spain have seen protests against the cost of living, among other causes.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of cause

Noun

The only way to fully understand the key mechanisms of democracy is through learning their conceptual mathematical foundations.

— Ismar Volić, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
In May 2025, Miller said the administration was actively considering suspending the constitutional mechanism that allows detainees to challenge their confinement in court.

— Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of mechanism

Noun

Explaining the impetus for her piece, Salcedo pointed to current conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, and Sudan, where people are being violently displaced en masse.

— Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
Many of today’s proponents are more likely to cite the threat of unprecedented fortunes to democracy than the need for redistribution as the impetus for a wealth tax.

— Daniel Waldenstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of impetus

Noun

To forge the target in the first place, Rice University scientists bound small diamond grains with cubic boron nitride and cobalt using spark plasma sintering.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Before the fumble, which came on a sack by linebacker Quintavius Johnson, Jones had provided a momentary spark after Sumrall benched Philo following Florida’s third series.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026