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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of apocalyptic
Post-apocalyptic scenarios are a longtime staple of science fiction, and director Ridley Scott’s latest film, The Dog Stars, falls firmly into that subgenre.
—
Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
For normal consumers, though, the outcome needn’t be apocalyptic to cause pain.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
While the shocking lack of snowpack at high elevations and crispy grasses in lower elevations portend a potentially apocalyptic wildfire season, some wildfire experts look at those predictions with an asterisk.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
They are also filled with apocalyptic premonitions that make sense only in a first-century context, when Jesus was credibly thought by his followers to soon be on his way back home, ready to take believers up to Heaven, or the moon, with him.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic
Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
For normal consumers, though, the outcome needn’t be apocalyptic to cause pain.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
While the shocking lack of snowpack at high elevations and crispy grasses in lower elevations portend a potentially apocalyptic wildfire season, some wildfire experts look at those predictions with an asterisk.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026
They are also filled with apocalyptic premonitions that make sense only in a first-century context, when Jesus was credibly thought by his followers to soon be on his way back home, ready to take believers up to Heaven, or the moon, with him.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for apocalyptic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apocalyptic
Adjective
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But by the time the climactic showdown rolls around, certain revelations about the big day never make sense, and others imply the kind of nuanced character development that never comes to fruition.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
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Following the climactic portrayal of bombings in Iran and Gaza, the Strokes’ video montage ended with a shot of a bomber plane in the air, as the song abruptly ended.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The teamwork and professionalism shown by the officers today are a testament to their training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and critical decision-making.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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But for Ternus, perhaps the most critical aspect of his new job will be pushing the company deeper into AI, where it's lagged many of its megacap peers.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The guard’s late-game work on the offensive glass and defensive contributions were pivotal for Boston.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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The April 7 announcement by Anthropic — that its new Mythos model was far more powerful and thus far more dangerous than any previous AI tool — increasingly appears to be a pivotal moment in human history.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Enforcement must be swift and decisive in removing fraudulent operators.—
Tom Koutsoumpas,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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The same official also indicated that Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, is not necessarily the decisive factor in these discussions, but Nabih Berri, speaker of the nation's House, is the one with true authority, not Aoun.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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
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His elite pass protection and calm feet mean he can be trusted immediately to keep the quarterback clean on passing downs, while also providing a high-effort presence on special teams.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Cameras now deploy ever higher frame rates, as seen in the uncanny sheen of blockbusters by James Cameron and Peter Jackson, and films are shot, shown, and restored on ever higher resolutions (4K, 8K, and beyond).—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Maher cited Walmart’s recent updates to its policies regarding Sparky, its own AI shopping agent, as a watershed moment for the industry.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
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Yeahs parlayed their New York hero status into career artists, the Mooney Suzuki, whose 1999 EP was heralded as a watershed moment for the scene, had the unfortunate fate of missing out on the boom.—
Daniel Kohn,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apocalyptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apocalyptic. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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