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
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
The first five mass extinctions were triggered by cataclysms such as super volcano eruptions and the impact of a massive asteroid.
—Keridwen Cornelius, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
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
The first five mass extinctions were triggered by cataclysms such as super volcano eruptions and the impact of a massive asteroid.
—Keridwen Cornelius, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
-
During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The National Weather Service placed New York City under a coastal flood warning and wind advisory through at least Monday afternoon.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Al-Sudani, who rose to power after that upheaval, insisted his government had taken tangible steps to restore public trust, such as economic progress and political stability.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
-
But this journey takes place during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis, a moment of profound historical upheaval and political unrest — when everything is on the verge of change.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One look at the SRG landing page inspires an instant torrent of ideas on how to style each piece.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Needless to say, directing their actors through this torrent of deep feeling was its own challenge.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The disaster level has officially hit biblical proportions.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There will also be a slight pass given for not having Burrow, but let’s be real, this can’t be an abject disaster.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Employers can tap our natural human urge to connect through culture-building and clear organizational purpose – especially during rapid transformation like the AI revolution and other economic pressures.—
Jason Del Rey,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Appelhans compared today’s animation landscape to music’s digital revolution.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the video, an elderly man — played by Hiep Tran Nghia — gingerly hobbles around a stone town before an apocalypse of sorts strikes.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
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Furthermore, a zombie apocalypse wouldn’t even scratch the surface of weirdest things to happen in the fictional town of Riverdale.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The first is an earthquake that rattles the house into disarray.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Historical evidence suggests that a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck Alexandria centuries ago, causing much of the land to sink into the Mediterranean.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Her name was Maggie McCabe, a grieving former combat surgeon who had her license revoked after a tragedy.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The duo pushes the concept of illusion versus reality to the extreme, personally and professionally, until tragedy reframes and opens a mystery surrounding their last fateful Las Vegas show.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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