as in fuels
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 catalysts
Other challenges include the risk of syngas contamination and chemical modification of the catalysts.
—
Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
How aviation employees helped end the previous shutdown Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers and TSA officers are largely seen as the catalysts for the end of the previous longest shutdown.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Key market catalysts loom ahead this week, including Big Tech earnings, a Federal Reserve rate decision and a potential China trade deal.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Thomas’ national title sparked nationwide backlash and is considered one of the catalysts in the battle over transgender athlete participation in girls’ and women’s sports.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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
Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
How aviation employees helped end the previous shutdown Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers and TSA officers are largely seen as the catalysts for the end of the previous longest shutdown.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Key market catalysts loom ahead this week, including Big Tech earnings, a Federal Reserve rate decision and a potential China trade deal.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Thomas’ national title sparked nationwide backlash and is considered one of the catalysts in the battle over transgender athlete participation in girls’ and women’s sports.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
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
-
Earlier, in another development related to fusion energy, IE had reported that researchers in the US are developing a method to recycle nuclear waste to make tritium – a rare version of hydrogen which serves as one of the main fuels in nuclear fusion.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The Paris Agreement temperature goals were based on scientific assessments of how each increment of global warming fuels worse heatwaves, droughts and wildfires.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
New data science tools are rapidly improving the speed and accuracy of detecting slight changes.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Despite over a century of investigation, there is still no cure, but advances in diagnostic tools, treatments and preventive strategies continue to offer hope for slowing the disease and improving quality of life for patients and caregivers.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The state has also advanced in large-scale restoration through innovative mechanisms such as restoration concessions, while intensifying actions to combat deforestation and forest fires.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
How Hypertension Affects Brain Structure Hypertension contributes to or accelerates cognitive decline via various harmful brain mechanisms.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Binary triggers allow a semiautomatic weapon to fire both when the trigger is pulled and released, increasing its rate of fire.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Under the leadership of designer and founder Robin Brown, the company’s nonprofit foundation has supported causes ranging from Indigenous housing and disaster relief to animal welfare and youth arts programs.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
What are the root causes of the problem?—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act offered many incentives for the development of these alternative energy sources.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Germany scrapped incentives to boost purchases of fully electric vehicles about two years ago, a policy change that led to a sharp drop in demand for fully electric vehicles, initially.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to WeRide and Pony AI, Baidu is also expanding its robotaxi offerings through its Apollo Go vehicles.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Keep a distance from high profile vehicles such as trucks, buses and vehicles towing trailers.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Human rights organizations have renewed their criticism, airing concerns about the persecution of dissent in a country where more than 800 people are behind bars for political reasons, according to the legal rights organization Foro Penal.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Lea is an Elko protégé and could appeal to PSU for many of the same reasons.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Catalysts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalysts. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share