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

There’s a pre-apocalyptic chill in the air. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026

Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching or playing games, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic. —Chris McMullen, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2026

The post-apocalyptic dramedy ran for 10 episodes across one season in 2019, with Virgin River marking Kearsley's first return to the streaming platform since. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026

With music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell, Hadestown reimagines the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in a post-apocalyptic setting inspired by the Great Depression and New Orleans. —Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 11 Mar. 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