“facilitate”

To speed up or make a process happen more efficiently and smoothly.

“The new software will expedite the approval process from weeks to mere hours.”

Best for: Works well in business, legal, and logistical writing where efficiency is emphasized.

To trigger or accelerate a process or change, as a catalyst does in chemistry.

“The grant funding catalyzed a wave of innovation across the research department.”

Best for: Powerful in scientific, startup, and transformational leadership contexts.

To bring about or give rise to a condition, feeling, or outcome.

“Strong mentorship programs engender trust and loyalty within an organization.”

Best for: Suits formal essays, policy writing, and psychological or sociological discourse.

To act as the agent that brings something new into existence or helps it emerge.

“She midwifed the fragile peace agreement through months of quiet diplomacy.”

Best for: Striking metaphorical use in literary or journalistic writing; use sparingly for impact.

To ease the friction or difficulty within a process so it moves forward smoothly.

“A well-placed introduction can lubricate negotiations that have long been stalled.”

Best for: Vivid and slightly irreverent; effective in informal essays or conversational prose.

To lead toward or contribute to a particular result or outcome.

“A calm environment conduces to the kind of deep focus that great writing demands.”

Best for: Archaic and formal; ideal for philosophical texts or deliberate literary effect.