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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Recent Examples of catalysts
The crystal formation Nanocrystals possess a high surface-area-to-volume ratio and are efficient catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions in applications ranging from vehicle exhaust systems to medical diagnostic tests.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
That would change with railroads and citrus — catalysts in the first of many times residents would reshape the region’s environment.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
The software sector is a new source of positive technical catalysts in both absolute and relative terms, suggesting the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) will build on its recent gains.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 4 May 2026
The previous two cycles saw TCU sign some of the biggest names in the sports, Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Miles, with both players being catalysts for deep NCAA Tournament runs.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
David Bailey was one of the catalysts for Texas Tech, winning the Big 12 Championship after its defense finished third in the nation.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
And there are few catalysts on the horizon.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
With few near-term catalysts and shares at a key technical level that often signals losses, market watchers are warning of more disappointment ahead.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
That would change with railroads and citrus — catalysts in the first of many times residents would reshape the region’s environment.
—Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
The software sector is a new source of positive technical catalysts in both absolute and relative terms, suggesting the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) will build on its recent gains.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 4 May 2026
The previous two cycles saw TCU sign some of the biggest names in the sports, Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Miles, with both players being catalysts for deep NCAA Tournament runs.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
David Bailey was one of the catalysts for Texas Tech, winning the Big 12 Championship after its defense finished third in the nation.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
And there are few catalysts on the horizon.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
With few near-term catalysts and shares at a key technical level that often signals losses, market watchers are warning of more disappointment ahead.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalysts
Noun
-
By renewing the memorandum, the ports also agree to continue working to deploy low- and zero-emission fuels and digital solutions for shipping on the trans-Pacific corridor.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
San Francisco and New York City are leading office demand, as AI tech employment rises quickly in the former and diversity of employment fuels the latter.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In a further adaptation, the Buddhist Five Precepts were rewritten specifically for the robot, with input reportedly drawn from AI tools including Gemini and ChatGPT.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 May 2026
-
While digital tools will remain part of the landscape, Bugenhagen believes there is growing space for models that prioritize human insight and structured guidance.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Export controls, data security laws, and investment screening mechanisms increasingly function as instruments of a broader Chinese economic and geopolitical strategy tied to technology.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As just one example, two people receiving a diagnosis of major depressive disorder may have very different underlying biological mechanisms driving their illness, and very different responses to the same treatment.—
Eric J. Nestler,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Walz also is calling for the Legislature to re-pass a ban on binary triggers, modifications for semiautomatic rifles that fire a shot when the trigger is pulled and again while released, greatly boosting the weapon’s rate of fire.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But those numbers capture only a fraction of deaths, which often are classified only by other, more immediate causes, such as bleeding in the brain.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
-
Six different fixes addressing various causes of texture loss such as black photos, along with additional QV testing on paintings and photos to catch previously unreported cases will also be implemented.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Other approaches try to battle the countervailing incentives with fancier math.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
-
To fill the void left by streamers, Nigeria is attracting new productions and investment through tax incentives and industry reforms.—
Daron James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The two victims who were shot while inside their vehicles were also taken to Boston hospitals with life-threatening injuries, officials said.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
-
Modern vehicles do have more sensitive electronics, and following manufacturer-specific procedures is always the safest approach.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
There are other reasons for sending the frigates, however.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
-
One of the reasons for prices higher than neighboring states is the Illinois practice of applying sales taxes to the cost of gasoline after the motor fuel tax is charged to motorists.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catalysts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalysts. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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