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 of apocalyptic

• climactic
• critical
• highest
• pivotal
• decisive
• climacteric
• high
• watershed

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

The apocalyptic scene rapidly comes to resemble something familiar from zombie films or first-person shooters. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026

The song comes with futuristic visuals replete with spaceship control panels, hazmat suits, and apocalyptic collapse. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

Post-apocalyptic Stuart is charged with setting things right, but the instructions are garbled (a bad cross-universe connection) and OG Stuart disappears. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

At this, Lestat opens a door onto a balcony and sees the city of New York in a truly post-apocalyptic state. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026

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

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for apocalyptic

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