APOCALYPTIC Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

apocalyptic

adjective

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik

variants also apocalyptical

Definition of apocalyptic

as in climactic

of, relating to, or being a major turning point the apocalyptic Battle of Stalingrad, which led to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany

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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 apocalyptic There are apocalyptic scenarios, and there are apocalyptic scenarios. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 Fragments of email correspondence appear alongside bits of dialogue, histories of apocalyptic movements in Korea, and poems about the nature of time and the Bardo (the Tibetan Buddhist concept for the transitional period between death and rebirth). — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 30 June 2026 For many Parisians who are not physiologically vulnerable, the past week hasn’t been nearly as apocalyptic as media accounts have suggested. — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 His themes are learned; his settings numerous and far-flung; his imagination apocalyptic, but very, very funny. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocalyptic

Adjective

Eight years later, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon — a remarkable achievement that was the climactic moment of the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 July 2026
Courtesy of Netflix ©2026 Henry Cavill reprises his role as Sherlock for about six total minutes of screentime (including his very clearly CGI-ed presence at Enola’s climactic wedding).

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of climactic

Adjective

Infrastructure In infrastructure, the analysts said investors should look at companies that own critical networks such as grids, pipelines, fiber networks and transport assets that are difficult to replicate.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Women comprise 35% of US STEM employees, yet retention, not attraction, is the primary challenge, with women leaving at higher rates and companies losing critical knowledge.

— Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of critical

Adjective

Defense experts and strategists have described its drone campaign as pivotal in helping to stall Russia’s military momentum, while also warning that Kyiv’s deep-strike successes have drastically raised the risk of escalation.

— Katie Foley, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Go behind the scenes with Forbes Under 30 founders, creators and musicians—and the investors and mentors who backed them—to hear the real stories, lessons and pivotal moments behind building something that lasts.

— Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of pivotal

Adjective

Saibari scored in each of Morocco’s three group games and struck the decisive penalty in the shootout win over the Netherlands.

— Joe Murphy, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Veterinarians are trained to be decisive and efficient, and the instinct in a tense moment is almost always to reach for a fix the moment a client shows distress.

— Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of decisive

Adjective

Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.

— Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
For this reader, roughly the same age as Sam Raymond, there is uncommon pleasure in the paradoxes of this climacteric tale.

— Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 22 June 2021

Definition of climacteric

Adjective

Millions of Americans paying higher Affordable Care Act insurance bills in 2026 will once again face double-digit rate hikes next year, marking another cost increase for health insurance that has become prohibitively expensive for some.

— Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 8 July 2026
The effective closure of the waterway after the outbreak of the war saw oil prices surge, fueling concerns about an energy shock that could feed into higher inflation across the globe.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 8 July 2026

Definition of high

Adjective

Two players acquired during the watershed opening day of free agency have little name recognition.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
And that’s for showing up at a red carpet, not for a watershed celebrity wedding that threatens to overshadow America’s 250th birthday on July 4.

— Marc Malkin, Variety, 2 July 2026

Definition of watershed

Browse Nearby Words

apocalypses

apocalyptic

apocryphal

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“Apocalyptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocalyptic. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of apocalyptic

adjective

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