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Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing

Catalyst

noun / KAT-uh-list / Easy
Meaning

A person or thing that precipitates an event or accelerates a process or change without being permanently affected itself.

Origin / Etymology

Greek katalysis (dissolution), from kata (down) + lyein (to loosen)

Synonyms
Stimulus Impetus Trigger
Antonyms
Inhibitor Impediment
Example Sentence
"The Jan Dhan Yojana served as a catalyst for financial inclusion, bringing over 500 million previously unbanked Indians into the formal financial system."
🎯 UPSC Usage

Widely applicable in UPSC answers — GS3 on technology as catalyst for development, GS2 on policies as catalyst for social change, GS1 on events that acted as catalysts in the freedom movement. A versatile word for Mains answers and Essays.

Relevant Subjects
Economy Science Tech
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