catalyze
To cause or accelerate a significant change or action
Examples
In a meeting
“The new partnership should catalyze our expansion into European markets.”
Over coffee
“That documentary really catalyzed my interest in sustainable living.”
Why this word
trigger
catalyze means initiating or accelerating change while remaining unchanged oneself, while trigger simply starts something without the facilitating quality
stimulate
catalyze specifically means enabling or speeding up a process without being consumed, while stimulate is encouraging activity without the chemical/process precision
accelerate
catalyze implies enabling a reaction that wouldn't easily occur otherwise, while accelerate simply means making something faster
Usage tip
Use when describing something that sparks or speeds up transformation, not just simple changes. Implies the agent itself isn't consumed in the process.
Etymology
Greek 'katalysis' (dissolution), from 'kata-' (down) + 'lyein' (to loosen)
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Related words
revamp
To give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to something.
deteriorate
To become progressively worse over time.
pivot
Change direction or strategy while maintaining a central focus
backtrack
To reverse a previous decision or statement
revert
To return to a previous state or practice
proliferate
To increase rapidly in number; multiply