apocalyptic

adjective

apoc·​a·​lyp·​tic ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik 

variants or less commonly apocalyptical

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-ti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling an apocalypse

apocalyptic events

2

: forecasting the ultimate destiny of the world : prophetic

apocalyptic warnings

3

: foreboding imminent disaster or final doom : terrible

apocalyptic signs of the coming end-times

4

: wildly unrestrained : grandiose

5

: ultimately decisive : climactic

an apocalyptic battle

apocalyptically

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• climactic
• pivotal
• decisive
• climacteric
• highest
• crucial

Examples of apocalyptic in a Sentence

No one listened to her apocalyptic predictions.

a less apocalyptic view of the future

the apocalyptic destruction of the world

Recent Examples on the Web

Created by Steve Gerber, best known for Howard the Duck and legendary runs on The Defenders and Man-Thing, the series is set in a post-apocalyptic 40th century, two millennia after a comet split the moon in half and caused major destruction to Earth. —Will Harris, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025

With the third season of the live-action adaptation of the Naughty Dog post-apocalyptic video game coming up, Ramsey has given the haters a suggestion. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025

The view went from apocalyptic to magical inside the cozy, vintage venue. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2025

His last feature was 2019’s The Dead Don’t Die, an apocalyptic zombie comedy that was more Salo than his Night of the Living Dead — a vicious and awkward lament against a dying world, rather than the genre adventure some were hoping for. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin apocalypticus, derivative of apocalypsis apocalypse, by analogy with pairs such as ellīpsis ellipsis : ellīpticus elliptic

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for apocalyptic

• cryptic
• diptych
• styptic
• triptych
• tryptic
• ecliptic
• elliptic