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

Goldberg, his fellow Canadian, co-directed with him the weirdly uneven apocalyptic comedy bravely titled This Is the End, which proved to be neither a hit nor the end. — Peter Bart, Deadline, 30 July 2026

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

Her Maggie and Morgan’s Negan aren’t simply two survivors adrift in the Walking Dead’s post-apocalyptic hellscape, trying to scrape a meager existence together. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 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

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