catastrophism

noun ca·tas·tro·phism \ kə-ˈtas-trə-ˌfi-zəm \

|Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of catastrophism

: a geological doctrine that changes in the earth's crust have in the past been brought about suddenly by physical forces operating in ways that cannot be observed today — compare uniformitarianism

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catastrophist

play \-fist\ noun

Recent Examples of catastrophism from the Web

There’s something indulgent, even weirdly complacent, in the basement catastrophism of these dudes.

— james parker, The Atlantic, "Live-Streaming the Apocalypse With NRATV," 5 May 2018
There would always be in his work an element of catastrophism, a doomed sense of the horrors to come.

— edward hirsch, New Republic, "Czeslaw Milosz’s Invincible Reason," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catastrophism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.