apocalyptic

adjective

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik How to pronounce apocalyptic (audio)
variants also apocalyptical
Definition of apocalypticnext
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

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 apocalyptic But don’t participate in their apocalyptic—We’re going to Mars. — Victoria Feng, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 Her storyline became an emotional anchor in the latest season of Hulu’s post-apocalyptic thriller. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Pluribus, the post-apocalyptic sci-fi series from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, garnered 18 nominations. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026 Even if the movie gets a bit crazy in an apocalyptic epilogue, its picture of bourgeois smugness due for a takedown is delicious. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocalyptic
  1. climactic
  2. critical
  3. pivotal
  4. decisive
  5. climacteric
  6. high
  7. watershed
Adjective
  • Mundy pointed out action scenes in previous episodes provided plenty of pyrotechnics, including a climactic brawl between Hal and John in Episode 5.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Their climactic scenes near the end, once all the obstacles have been removed, are lovely — and not just because Austen’s prose in their outcome is so indestructible.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of climactic
Adjective
  • But expanding domestic and allied capacity to manufacture the most critical medicines and ingredients — and maintain adequate strategic reserves — would dramatically reduce China’s leverage in any future crisis.
    — Patrick McHenry, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Hospital Association reports critical shortages of health care workers across the state.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of critical
Adjective
  • California will play a pivotal role in determining the control of Congress.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This engineering hurdle explains why the Fujikura contract is so pivotal.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Adjective
  • Every action is decisive and cannot be reversed, just as the film runs ever forward through the projector.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The decisive Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night in Las Vegas.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 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
  • The Mechanics In both cases, regulators allege the fund advisers marketed themselves as having access to stakes in high profile private companies.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In March 2025, Moncler Grenoble traveled to Courchevel, the French Alps ski resort located in the Tarentaise Valley, and the show was staged amid a blizzard at the Courchevel Altiport, Europe’s highest airport at 6,588 feet.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of high
Adjective
  • But time zones aside, the launch marked a watershed moment for Canada's future in space.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Kirk’s killing was a watershed moment during a wave of political violence in the United States.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of watershed

Browse Nearby Words

apocalypses
apocalyptic
apocryphal
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Cite this Entry

“Apocalyptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocalyptic. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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