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
-
Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Nov. 2025
-
During a flood-the-zone presidency, this seems like a sound strategy.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The journalists who rushed to the scene managed to jot down the names of about a dozen—the VIPs (there were three members of parliament on the train that day, which was a factor in the disaster) and a couple of servants.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As a train barrels toward her near the final moments of the video, Perry spots a daisy on the tracks — seemingly a nod to her daughter — and dodges disaster.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
After three years of upheaval — capped by last year’s unpopular relocation to Las Vegas — the 2025 AFM marks the event’s return to Los Angeles, with a new (and hopefully permanent) home at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City.—
Kevin Cassidy,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
-
These upheavals have always caused tensions, and those tensions have shaped the American social order in many ways.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 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
-
The historian Karen Armstrong argues that our modern focus on belief is a distortion that arose after the scientific revolution.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
-
These are the recipes that launched a cultural revolution and created a mogul out of a one-woman catering business.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Carol, a reclusive and disgruntled bestselling romantasy author, exhorts her reticent audience of five immune English speakers to reclaim human agency against the milquetoast, obsequious blob and join her in a quest to reverse the happiness apocalypse.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Ilana presents herself as a stout-hearted reformer who’s being targeted by fascistic insurgents but is secretly evil enough to engineer an apocalypse.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Speaking of Grande, a second clip posted Thursday by NBC opens with figure skating champion Alysa Liu performing a breathtaking routine on the ice before something like an earthquake interrupts her.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 2025.
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