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
At the universe's grandest scales, galaxy clusters collide in slow-motion cataclysms, leaving behind immense, ghostly arcs — vast ribbons of diffuse radio emissions that can stretch across millions of light-years.
—
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
The first of his three marriages, which took place in 1967, was a cataclysm, and inebriation played its part.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Every year, come rain or shine or strike or global cataclysm, Slow Horses delivers a new season.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
The travelers that interested her were not those seeking plain or ordinary pleasures but those chasing a profound personal cataclysm.
—Nicole Flattery, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
The first of his three marriages, which took place in 1967, was a cataclysm, and inebriation played its part.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Every year, come rain or shine or strike or global cataclysm, Slow Horses delivers a new season.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
The travelers that interested her were not those seeking plain or ordinary pleasures but those chasing a profound personal cataclysm.
—Nicole Flattery, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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
-
These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
It’s been a big year of upheaval for Allen, who split from ex David Harbour in February, per People.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The statement comes as xAI faces a torrent of criticism from government regulators around the world in connection to images produced by its Grok software over the past several days.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Residents had to frantically flee their homes as a torrent of debris rushed through town and encased homes and cars in feet of mud.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The young republic’s survival hinged on distancing itself from a Europe convulsed by revolution and war.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
One early muse-like figure is Martin Luther, who in 1524 sparked a revolution by challenging the church’s influence on commerce.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
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
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Thirty-two years ago, freeways fell, buildings flattened and local communities were reshaped forever by the earthquake.—
Jamie Yuccas,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
What calamity will summon the firefighters and medics of Station 118 to the scene?—
Rachel Kurzius,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Not so much for most of the thousands of people displaced a year ago by the twin fire calamities that hit the east and west ends of Los Angeles County.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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