apocalypse

noun

ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips How to pronounce apocalypse (audio)
Definition of apocalypsenext
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of apocalypse Worried about the dog in the sci-fi apocalypse thriller The End of Oak Street? — Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 This October marks 15 years since Cohan first joined the zombie franchise as Maggie, who has evolved from a compassionate farm girl to the ultimate apocalypse survivor. — Kirsten Acuna, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 While his beloved character didn’t outlive the zombie apocalypse, his romance with Pak bloomed. — Adrianne Reece, InStyle, 28 July 2026 Whitehead plumbed his boyhood fondness for horror movies in Zone One (2011), a zombie apocalypse novel set in a post-9/11 lower Manhattan in the wake of a pandemic. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for apocalypse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocalypse
  1. disaster
  2. catastrophe
  3. tragedy
  4. calamity
Noun
  • In moments, the towers’ dazzling height had transformed from the proud punctuation of this country’s signature skyline into a disaster-movie nightmare.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The Bills finished the Toronto series with a 1-5 record, and the experiment was viewed as a disaster.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • More than 1,000 people have been confirmed dead and thousands remain missing after the catastrophe, according to authorities in both countries.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As the story moves breathlessly through the neighborhood’s streets and interiors, Kodeih, who also edited the feature, and cinematographer Tony Kopec zero in on a jumpy, kinetic tension between looming catastrophe and potential triumph.
    — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • America could have responded to that tragedy by creating a kinder world, one that truly honors the dead.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Twenty-five years later, the tournament will pause to remember the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • Fearful of another 9/11-style calamity, the Bush team exaggerated the threat posed by Hussein, triggering what would become an eight-year military quagmire.
    — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Budget Director Ray Baker said Miami-Dade should have about $500 million in its rainy-day fund, but the county has less than $90 million available to tap after a calamity like a hurricane.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of calamity

Browse Nearby Words

aplomb
apocalypse
apocalypses
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Cite this Entry

“Apocalypse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocalypse. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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