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

Matt will discuss the journey that led him to write apocalyptic fiction, including the megahit Dungeon Crawler Carl series. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026

Just when this summer couldn’t get more apocalyptic, a packaging defect has led Schwarzkopf’s parent company, Henkel, to voluntarily recall its Osis Grip Extra Strong Mousse. — James Manso, Allure, 17 Aug. 2026

The landscape in the southernmost part of Chilean Patagonia, often called the End of the World, has a post-apocalyptic quality. — Ana Karina Zatarain, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where 39 women and one girl—the book’s nameless protagonist—have been imprisoned in an underground bunker for years. — Air Mail, 15 Aug. 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