1
as in flood
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
an ancient cataclysm that may have been the basis for the Flood described in the Bible
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
the earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755, killing 30,000 people, was one of the greatest cataclysms ever recorded
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
a social cataclysm that gave rise to a new world order
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cataclysm
Humanity has been dealing with nefarious arch-villains, fire-breathing kaiju and world-ending cataclysms caused by forces beyond human comprehension for centuries.
—
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 12 July 2025
The most horrifying feature of this cataclysm occurred at a girls’ summer camp, where 27 children and counselors are confirmed to have died.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
Unlike during the pandemic, a cataclysm that played no favorites, the trade war is fast becoming a consumer marketing minefield.
—Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Dyer’s father was traumatized by the austerity of growing up in England between two military cataclysms, and his daily satisfaction is bound in his ability to pinch pences.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 12 July 2025
The most horrifying feature of this cataclysm occurred at a girls’ summer camp, where 27 children and counselors are confirmed to have died.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
Unlike during the pandemic, a cataclysm that played no favorites, the trade war is fast becoming a consumer marketing minefield.
—Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Dyer’s father was traumatized by the austerity of growing up in England between two military cataclysms, and his daily satisfaction is bound in his ability to pinch pences.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
-
In addition to preserving natural ecosystems and the sustainable fisheries that depend on them, reefs may help to protect coastlines from storms and floods, which will become ever more urgent as climate change and rising sea levels give rise to more dangerous storms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The death toll from heavy floods in central Vietnam has risen to 13, the government said Friday, as residents of the flooded city of Hoi An started cleanup operations as the water levels began to subside.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The floods have also left 11 people missing, inundated more than 116,000 houses and 5,000 hectares of crops, and damaged roads and railways, cutting off traffic and power in several areas, the government’s disaster agency said in a report.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Desmond McKenzie, deputy chair of Jamaica's disaster risk management council, declined to share how many people have died, although authorities separately told AP at least four deaths occurred in southwest Jamaica.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The debate over Vietnam divided the rising baby boomer generation from their parents and fueled a cultural upheaval.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In a world fraught with real-life villains, political upheaval and a collective sense of hopelessness, fantasy steps in to inspire people to carry on, and that rings especially true for LGBTQ+ teens.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In the unending torrent of police corruption in Massachusetts, here’s a bit of good news.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
-
But if so, that original dream did not last long in the face of the torrent of money that soon started flooding his way.—
Moisés Naím,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the wake of the accident, and others related to air traffic control, some called to integrate the powerful technologies behind the AI automation revolution.—
Eoin Higgins,
Fortune,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Here’s What Real Pro-Family Policy Looks Like Today, some political leaders want to reverse that revolution.—
Stephanie Psaki,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This tale of a plausible viral apocalypse makes the case that true horrors can lurk just outside our view — and possibly within us all.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The situation devolves from there, in a sort of micro-zombie apocalypse.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Shortly after things heat up, an earthquake hits.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Back in the mid-2000s, adjustable-rate loans contributed to a financial calamity.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Whereas much of the original play unfolds as a steady stream of callers to the Tesmans’ estate, DaCosta cleverly restages these various interpersonal calamities against the backdrop of a lavish party.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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