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
These cataclysms locked inside the Delaware Basin more than 46 billion barrels of technically recoverable crude oil, and 281 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
—
Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Every play in the Century Cycle has its roots in the cataclysm of enslavement, but Joe Turner takes place with Reconstruction still close in the rearview.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Only a species suffering from terminal main character syndrome would, when describing intimately human experiences like love, reach for the language of global cataclysm.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Every play in the Century Cycle has its roots in the cataclysm of enslavement, but Joe Turner takes place with Reconstruction still close in the rearview.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
Only a species suffering from terminal main character syndrome would, when describing intimately human experiences like love, reach for the language of global cataclysm.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
-
Assemblyman Alex Bores is locked in a tight race ahead of the June 23 primary and may have benefitted from a flood of attack advertising sponsored by tech billionaires who don’t like his focus on regulating artificial intelligence.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
-
State workers from six departments were bestowed with California’s highest honor for public employees who have performed daring rescues in extreme conditions, including floods, wildfires and active shooter incidents.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
When a catastrophic breach at Piney Point threatened Manatee County homes with a toxic flood and fueled an environmental disaster five years ago, state leaders promised to clean up the mess with up to $200 million.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
-
Not allowing insurance companies to shift profits to out-of-state subsidiaries would save me more money than this disaster.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
There were creative peaks, especially once Haynes and Derek Trucks injected new energy into the band, but also plenty of ongoing upheaval, culminating in Betts’ firing in 2000.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
-
Boise State failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and was never really in the picture, and Rice hinted at an offseason of upheaval if the Broncos wanted to be competitive in the new Pac-12.—
Shaun Goodwin
June 9,
Idaho Statesman,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Or was the Spurs’ low assist total a consequence of make-or-miss variance on a torrent of otherwise desirable catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts?—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
My one-bedroom suite had a bathtub in the bedroom with water that flowed from the ceiling in a torrent—an unusual and noisy way to fill a bath tub, but certainly memorable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The company was formed in the aftermath of 9/11 to sell terrorism and catastrophe property insurance.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
Then there were climate catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina, the normalization of active shooter drills at their schools and a worldwide pandemic.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Iranian flags of pre-1979 revolution vintage — flags that many Iranian-Americans wave as a protest against the current regime in Tehran — are banned from the match, per FIFA.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
-
The name almendrón comes from the Spanish word for almond, a reference to the rounded shape of the large American sedans imported before Cuba’s 1959 revolution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Ironically, that outcome may lead it to threaten a market wipeout — if not apocalypse — itself.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
-
The group eventually purchased a compound in Lure, North Carolina and believed that they would be rescued from the coming apocalypse by UFOs.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
-
The installation is inspired by the original Wind Phone, created in Japan by garden designer Itaru Sasaki following the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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