apocalyptic

adjective

apoc·​a·​lyp·​tic ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik How to pronounce apocalyptic (audio)
variants or less commonly apocalyptical
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 adverb

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
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Poised at the end of a humdrum interglacial, in an otherwise chilly corner of Earth history, industrial civilization is emitting carbon dioxide at a clip 10 times faster than the apocalyptic volcanoes of the end-Permian mass extinction. Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 Over 15 seasons, Sam and Dean faced apocalyptic threats, including Lucifer, the Four Horsemen, and even God himself, all while struggling to hold onto their humanity and their bond as brothers. Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Coproducer and Finite Films & TV founder Amy Gardner previously served as executive producer on the apocalyptic musical feature The End, directed by Joshua Oppenheimer and starring Tilda Swinton, George MacKay and Stephen Graham. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2025 Speculative fiction spans science fiction, fantasy, alternative historical fiction, dystopian and utopian fiction, and apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of apocalyptic was in 1633

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Cite this Entry

“Apocalyptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocalyptic. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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