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
This singular event can be the catalyst needed to get oil moving back down and bond yields following, freeing Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to lower rates.
—
Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 25 May 2026
Gabriel Jesus was the catalyst behind Arsenal’s first title race under Mikel Arteta in the 2022-23 season, and that all began with a spellbinding performance at Selhurst Park that August.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Diet, for example, is viewed as a potential catalyst.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 21 May 2026
Alonzo Alvarez has seen his role increase over the past month and has taken full advantage of the opportunity.
Evans and Alvarez, senior and freshmen, served as catalysts for the Hurricanes on Wednesday as Miami opened play in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 25 May 2026
Gabriel Jesus was the catalyst behind Arsenal’s first title race under Mikel Arteta in the 2022-23 season, and that all began with a spellbinding performance at Selhurst Park that August.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Diet, for example, is viewed as a potential catalyst.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 21 May 2026
Alonzo Alvarez has seen his role increase over the past month and has taken full advantage of the opportunity.
Evans and Alvarez, senior and freshmen, served as catalysts for the Hurricanes on Wednesday as Miami opened play in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for catalyst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catalyst
Noun
-
Increasing the money supply is classically viewed as an economic stimulus.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
-
Notice in March '22 the inflationary spike in reaction to the unprecedented fiscal and monetary policy stimulus following the global pandemic.—
Todd Gordon,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Every dollar above prewar fuel prices transfers directly into political pressure accumulating in congressional offices, presidential approval ratings, and midterm election calculations.—
David S. Cohen,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2026
-
Analysts today describe an institution constrained by shortages of fuel and spare parts and increasingly dependent on domestic improvisation — modifying, repurposing and cannibalizing older systems to keep them operational.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Systems thinking has become unavoidable, and art has become a crucial tool for making invisible systems legible—and for fighting back.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
-
Small businesses, despite their economic impact, underutilize AI, treating it merely as a chat tool disconnected from core operations like QuickBooks or HubSpot.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
All season, the teenagers on The Audacity have been set up as troubled, neglected afterthoughts to their parents’ indulgences and machinations, and the show finally pulls the trigger on Chekhov’s gun.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
24 May 2026
-
Against the Lakers, his quick trigger became more practical.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Multiple investigations at the state and local level are underway to unravel the full cause of the near disaster.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
The staff responds to between 50 and 70 strandings annually, and the typical cause of death is pneumonia, Rust says.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
For instance, some mechanisms block the option to download or share a digital file.—
Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
-
Researchers hope to gain a much deeper understanding of their underlying cellular mechanisms by uncovering how these diseases develop through an evolutionary lens.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Three cases The impetus for the legislation was a shocking case last year in Waterbury that was following by two other cases in New Britain and Enfield.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
-
The impetus to start the brand came after losing a close friend, Kristy, to cancer at just 24 years old in 2013.—
Rachel Burchfield,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 May 2026
-
The astro-weather brings creative sparks, romantic curiosity and a chance to see yourself through someone else’s eyes.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catalyst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catalyst. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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