Catalyst: meaning, example and synonyms

Catalystn. A person or event that triggers or speeds up a significant change.

Example

Historians often treat cheap printing as a catalyst for religious reform, though the discontent it spread had been building for decades.

Part of speech: noun
Synonyms: stimulus, spur, impetus, trigger
Antonyms: obstacle, hindrance, deterrent, impediment
Memory tip: In chemistry, a catalyst speeds a reaction without being used up.

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Check yourself: Catalyst in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

The discovery of a single mislabeled sample proved to be the ______ for a sweeping review of the laboratory's procedures.

Question 2

Historians argue that a sudden rise in bread prices acted as the ______ that turned years of quiet resentment into open protest.

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