postapocalyptic

adjective

post·​apoc·​a·​lyp·​tic ˌpōst-ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik 

: existing or occurring after a catastrophically destructive disaster or apocalypse

In a postapocalyptic world where nature has become just as violent as humanity …

—Gretchen Crowley

postapocalyptic films [=films that are set in a postapocalyptic world]

postapocalypse

ˌpōst-ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips 

noun

The postapocalypse has been trendy for a while, but of late, there seems to be a spate of tales of the end times, and we eat them up.

—Molly Eichel

Examples of postapocalyptic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This reflects not just Seehorn's charm and Gilligan’s frustrations with antiheroes, but also his anxiety about the prevalence of postapocalyptic sci-fi stories. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025

Without Lich, then there was no Mushroom War, and thus no postapocalyptic Ooo. —Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Oct. 2025

More recently, the desert landscape played host to the postapocalyptic car chases of Mad Max 2. —Julian Spector, Wired News, 11 Oct. 2025

The landscapes of southernmost Louisiana pair opulent biodiversity with postapocalyptic desolation. —Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for postapocalyptic

• apocalyptic
• cryptic
• diptych
• styptic
• triptych
• tryptic
• ecliptic
• elliptic