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
Likely caused by volcanic eruptions in present-day Siberia, the End-Permian cataclysm eventually wiped out around 57 percent of all biological life, including 70 percent of terrestrial vertebrates.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
And star-formation will continue for trillions of years, providing new lights in the sky and new chances for cataclysms like supernovae, kilonovae, and tidal disruption events.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Just a few things going a bit wrong could compound, all at once, into a cataclysm.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
In the early 2000s, scientists first saw these conspicuous cataclysms, which can shine much longer and be more than 10 times brighter than a normal supernova.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026
And star-formation will continue for trillions of years, providing new lights in the sky and new chances for cataclysms like supernovae, kilonovae, and tidal disruption events.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Just a few things going a bit wrong could compound, all at once, into a cataclysm.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
In the early 2000s, scientists first saw these conspicuous cataclysms, which can shine much longer and be more than 10 times brighter than a normal supernova.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
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In addition to deterring unwanted visitors or critters, these flood lights have also become popular among pet owners for another purpose.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
-
The easing of export regulations came just as Argentina’s beef production dropped by more than 10 percent due to floods and droughts, according to CICCRA, the nonprofit organization that represents Argentina’s beef producers.—
Clara Preve,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Boeing has reached confidential pre-trial settlements in most of the dozens of wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection with the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and a similar 737 Max crash five months earlier off the coast of Indonesia that together killed 346 people.—
Rio Yamat,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
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But the 48-year-old former San Francisco County supervisor’s solution — a single-payer-style public disaster insurance program — is poorly defined and presents an enormous risk for a state struggling with chronic deficits.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Noun
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With several high-profile players likely to leave and Beye not expected to remain in his post, another summer of upheaval awaits at Marseille.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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As a result, global markets are experiencing upheaval and crude oil prices have remained above $100 a barrel.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Still, despite the qualms of the public and politicians, there’s a torrent of capital for building new data centers.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
9 May 2026
-
With each goal, a torrent of emotion was let loose.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Yet a revolution is now underway, one that is exploding all the spending records.—
Chris Smith,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
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Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images Since the debut of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, and the subsequent AI revolution, workers across industries have been hit by sweeping layoffs.—
Matthew Chin,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Noun
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System apocalypse, dungeon core and subgenres galore LitRPG has international roots, according to Rhea Lyons, the director of content acquisition at Audible.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
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Might the oligarchs of the world know — or be warned — in advance of a nuclear apocalypse?—
Rachel Lerman,
Washington Post,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Scientists are continuing to find evidence that the earth beneath the Pacific Northwest is tearing apart, underscoring the need to study potential earthquake activity in the region.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Back in the late ’90s, the Federal Reserve (and everyone else) was sweating a potential Y2K calamity.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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All the sweeping expansiveness snaps shut with a sudden health crisis for Kristen, its onset signaled with masterful concision in a middle-of-the-night calamity that leaves her helpless.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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