variants
also apocalyptical
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apocalyptic
That scintillating Jim Jarmusch movie, from 2019, a mashup of comedy, science fiction, horror, and apocalyptic rage amid brazen cruelty, is the kind of late masterwork that a longtime director occasionally unleashes if the stars line up.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The new season takes viewers on a journey through the Mojave wasteland to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas, according to a Prime Video news release.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
Season 2 is going to shock you with post-apocalyptic excess.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Delivering cargo across a sparse post-apocalyptic landscape, often on foot, was an unlikely premise for a blockbuster video game.
—Will Ripley, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
The new season takes viewers on a journey through the Mojave wasteland to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas, according to a Prime Video news release.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
Season 2 is going to shock you with post-apocalyptic excess.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Delivering cargo across a sparse post-apocalyptic landscape, often on foot, was an unlikely premise for a blockbuster video game.
—Will Ripley, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocalyptic
Adjective
-
At the climactic sally, six aerial bombs were dropped; none scored a direct hit, but their detonations damaged the hull so severely that the ship sank in 21 minutes.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
-
That lack of forward momentum is exactly what has made Stranger Things’s final season so far feel strangely anti-climactic.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
This trend accelerated in December as the flag state emerged as a critical shield against drone strikes and vessel seizures.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The musical movies have received critical acclaim, and the second film earned five total nominations at this year's Globes — one more than the 2025 Golden Globes.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Then, on the pivotal play of the game, Becht ran untouched for nine yards on a great play call by coach Matt Campbell to ice the game.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Tiger Woods' son, Charlie Woods, has capped off a pivotal year in his junior golf career by earning a spot on the prestigious 2025 Rolex Junior All-America First Team, a recognition awarded by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to the top junior golfers in the world.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Indeed, the decisive role played by international allies like France and Spain is only one part of this sprawling story.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger secured the governorship with a decisive lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, while Mikie Sherrill prevailed in New Jersey following a campaign centered on affordability and public safety.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
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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
Adjective
-
Never use your high-beam lights.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The team had started the season on a losing streak, and tensions were high.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Carolina won, 27-15, and Jansen recalls that victory being as a watershed moment for the franchise.—
Mike Kaye
December 31,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The 2024 awards season became a watershed moment for horror, showcasing the genre’s viability.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apocalyptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocalyptic. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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