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 catastrophe
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
Produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, the film is about the financial cataclysm that hit New York City in 1975, when the powers that be figured out that the city was $6 billion in debt.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
In the real world, though, the cataclysm can come in on little cat feet.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The effect can't be explained by lava temperatures alone, but rather a different event from the cataclysm.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
When neutron stars merge, plus possibly when other stellar cataclysms (such as supernovae or exploding white dwarfs) occur, both U-235 and U-238 are produced.
—Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
In the real world, though, the cataclysm can come in on little cat feet.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The effect can't be explained by lava temperatures alone, but rather a different event from the cataclysm.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
When neutron stars merge, plus possibly when other stellar cataclysms (such as supernovae or exploding white dwarfs) occur, both U-235 and U-238 are produced.
—Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
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Nothing quite as splashy there, but reps from Max and Lupin maker Gaumont Television France gave their views on some live issues, as boiling hot temperatures gave way to biblical floods in the mountainous locale.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
20 June 2025
-
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The dashboard comes at a time when the justice system is still adjusting to major changes, like the elimination of cash bail in 2023 in addition to the massive upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
-
The closing comes at a time of mild upheaval in the Coconut Grove culinary scene.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2025
Noun
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But that hasn't stopped a torrent of big news this week, from exploding Starships to significant reuse milestones being reached in Asia.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 June 2025
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On a purely textual level, the sentences are a torrent, jouncing on rocks, gliding gleefully through mud.—
Jane Alison
June 17,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2025
Noun
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By ordering these strikes, Trump acted without congressional approval and in contradiction to his campaign promise to avoid the kind of disasters experienced in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
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One of the factors that exacerbated the Chernobyl disaster was a design flaw within the nuclear reactor that exploded, Bernstein said, adding that the design is no longer used.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
21 June 2025
Noun
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What emerges is a vision of art as both sanctuary and resistance, and of portraiture as a form of quiet revolution—one that asks us, simply and profoundly, to look with love.—
Alessia Glaviano,
Vogue,
19 June 2025
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei − rising through the ranks Khamenei was a close ally of Iran's first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the figure who led the country's 1979 revolution that overthrew Pahlavi and founded Iran's Islamic Republic.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Noun
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When Jeffrey Dean Morgan is away filming in the zombie apocalypse, his 7-year-old daughter George is never far from his mind.—
Kirsten Acuna,
People.com,
12 June 2025
-
No other blood could possibly have made it onto Negan’s boot in this zombie apocalypse filled with violence.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.—
William B. Davis,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
Like an earthquake, the tectonic plates connecting the culture and the industry have shifted — and hip-hop may never be the same.—
Touré,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Jacobson said the sorrow among Amira’s family and friends was tempered by a supportive community, including members of the Mosque Foundation who visited Richards after the tragedy.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
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A couple enjoying a relaxing countryside vacation with their three dogs had the trip thrown into chaos when tragedy struck.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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