CATALYSTS Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

catalysts

noun

plural of catalyst

as in fuels

something that arouses action or activity Her expulsion from the university proved to be a catalyst for needed change.

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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 catalysts Asset start-up announcements, as more than 20 major projects in the backlog go live, are among the upcoming catalysts investors should anticipate. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026 Even one of the beef’s catalysts, Metro Boomin, echoed the sentiment, lamenting how online fans had turned the battle into something sinister. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026 Materials such as Nafion can densely surround catalysts at the nanoscale, impeding the rapid transport of protons to reaction sites. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026 Seawater brings additional problems involving competing chlorine chemistry, catalysts, impurities, and deposits. — New Atlas, 3 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalysts

Noun

Step Back Dangote, the billionaire industrialist, has opposed imports since before his refinery began supplying fuels in 2024.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026
These products can be used for liquid fuels, pharmaceuticals and other valuable products.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of fuels

Noun

But as self-learning AI behaves in unpredictable ways (such as the recent incident with Hugging Face tools), the risk of significant liability becomes real.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 20 Sep. 2026
And that’s what gives you not just a richer view of the world itself, but also a richer set of tools and ways to intervene with the world, interact with the world.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of tools

Noun

Habeas corpus, which allows a defendant to challenge the legality of their imprisonment, is among several mechanisms for release, some of which depend on a detainee’s location.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
It is also expected to include language barring non-NATO bases as well as mechanisms for blocking Chinese and Russian investments.

— Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of mechanisms

Noun

Others, including major philanthropic institutions, have pulled back out of fear of retribution that giving to political or racial justice causes could draw the administration's ire.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Activists of all ages are organizing events to promote sustainability, biodiversity and other environmental causes.

— Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of causes

Noun

Federal production incentives, layered on top of state programs like California’s AB/SB 186, are a meaningful step toward making the United States competitive and bringing production back home.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2026
Beyond biological and nuclear threats, AI companies face harsh organizational incentives to develop AI even faster and — experts say — more recklessly.

— Jared Perlo, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of incentives

Noun

What the bill means for classic cars, lowriders Maintaining vintage vehicles is a labor of love, and the biennial smog check requirement poses an additional challenge for collectors, as not all gas stations are equipped to provide this service.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Northbound Interstate 435 lanes in Shawnee were closed Wednesday afternoon following a crash involving seven vehicles, police said.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of vehicles

Noun

But that also has disastrous consequences, for different reasons.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Catcher Caden Bodine had plenty of reasons to be excited about how his first season in the Rays organization went, following a December trade from Baltimore.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of reasons

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catalyst

catalysts

catalyze

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“Catalysts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalysts. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of catalysts

noun

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