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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Recent Examples of catalyst
In Tehran, where the minimum wage sits just above 200 million rials a month, the daily struggle for basic sustenance has become a catalyst for revolt.
—
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The catalyst is a nutrient broth at 122 °F (50 °C).
—New Atlas, 11 May 2026
The core of the discovery is a new super catalyst that helps the process.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 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
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The catalyst is a nutrient broth at 122 °F (50 °C).
—New Atlas, 11 May 2026
The core of the discovery is a new super catalyst that helps the process.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 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
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst
Noun
-
Renter Mandy Feng, who prefers to use a pseudonym for fear of being seen criticizing the authorities, said the stimulus the government is offering has failed to offset people’s anxiety over an uncertain economic outlook.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
Perhaps sensing this, the league trotted out a series of onstage stimuli between picks.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Multiple spills — including the 1997 Torch/Platform Irene spill, the 2007 San Francisco Bay Cosco Busan bunker fuel spill, and the 2021 Huntington Beach pipeline leak — have reinforced California’s argument that expanded drilling and aging pipelines pose ongoing environmental risks.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Beyond core transportation infrastructure, some states also rely on revenues from fuel taxes to fund education, environmental initiatives and other public programs.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Maybe a computer was a new tool for understanding poetry.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
So Amrik taught Rai to cherish his tools and treat them with the utmost care.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
However, as the cold front becomes the dominant trigger for storms, the tornado threat will diminish, and wind and hail will become the primary threats.—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
-
Strenuous Exercise Intense physical activity is another common trigger for people with ISM.—
Suchandrima Bhowmik,
Health,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Hicks' cause of death was asphyxiation and his manner of death was ruled a suicide.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
-
But Thursday night also did little to help Steyer’s cause — or hurt it.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Some of the visceral mechanisms that gave it life have to be discarded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Roughly 38% to 46% of contracts fall into low-maturity structures, lacking pricing transparency, benchmarking mechanisms or meaningful flexibility clauses.—
David Pennino,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The swell of political dissatisfaction with Starmer from many of his colleagues, and what appears to be his narrow escape from an immediate leadership challenge, provides the impetus for the government to revamp its legislative agenda.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
13 May 2026
-
The project now has fresh impetus with SBS Productions and SBS International, which is repping sales at the Cannes market.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
There’s deep, poetic honor in the grueling fight to rebuild a standard; to find the creative sparks and opportunism required to surprise the world again.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
-
That spark quickly ignited the brush, which then expanded into the Sandy Fire, according to Sgt.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catalyst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalyst. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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