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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Recent Examples of cataclysm
The series, based on a popular video-game franchise, takes place in an alternate reality in which World War II yielded a retro-futuristic society thriving on rapid technological development—that is, until a nuclear cataclysm results in civilization’s collapse.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The most violent volcanic cataclysm ever seen in our solar system has been witnessed on Jupiter’s moon Io by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, with simultaneous eruptions covering an enormous 40,400 square miles (65,000 square kilometers).
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Perhaps a cataclysm—an earthquake, a volcanic eruption—had driven those people away.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
That industry, and its relationship to the city and state that cradled it for so long, is in a state of upheaval (or cataclysm, depending on who’s talking), which makes a pilgrimage to the Hollywood Heritage Museum even more powerful.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The most violent volcanic cataclysm ever seen in our solar system has been witnessed on Jupiter’s moon Io by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, with simultaneous eruptions covering an enormous 40,400 square miles (65,000 square kilometers).
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Perhaps a cataclysm—an earthquake, a volcanic eruption—had driven those people away.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
That industry, and its relationship to the city and state that cradled it for so long, is in a state of upheaval (or cataclysm, depending on who’s talking), which makes a pilgrimage to the Hollywood Heritage Museum even more powerful.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
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.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The new bridge survived the massive 1913 and 1937 floods, as well as the destructive ice gorges, or ice jams, that struck Riverside Park in the 1910s.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Such lack of vision — or ample self-delusion — propelled Americans to disaster in Iraq, even with some competent advisers in the White House.—
Trudy Rubin,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
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Leaving Polis off the guest list of a recent governors’ dinner at the White House was the latest slap in the face of many that include rescinded federal grants, a vetoed water bill, rejected disaster fund requests, and the loss of two federal agencies.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The conflict also triggered political tensions and economic upheaval, drawing incountries far beyond the Middle East.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Mar. 2026
-
For Washington, the diplomatic shift also reflects a broader effort to stabilize Venezuela after years of political upheaval and economic collapse that triggered one of the largest migration crises in the Western Hemisphere.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Yet Trump’s strategic air attack on Iran is evoking a torrent of vitriol from Democrats in Congress.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Persian Gulf countries have complained they were not given adequate time to prepare for the torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their territory.—
Emma Burrows,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The monarchist movement has not governed Iran since 1979, and its corrupt, despotic leader was overthrown in the revolution.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
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The second crisis stemmed from the revolution in Iran and its subsequent conflict with Iraq, which disrupted Iranian oil exporters.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As friendships between lonely men so often do, Gary and Ennis start to game out what their plans would be if there ever were a zombie apocalypse.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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Khosla warned the impending AI jobs apocalypse will upend the economy by the end of the decade, and tech could soon replace some 80% of jobs, including some of the roles that have traditionally been associated with years of training or education.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Those who felt the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Plage d'Agadir, Morocco The modern city of Agadir grew from the ruins of an older town that was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1960s.—
Melanie van Zyl,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Up until the two hundred and fiftieth, which, save a miracle, is going to break all earlier records for dismal misadventure, regrettable calamity, and shocking violence, no fifty-year anniversary of the founding was more turbulent than the Bicentennial.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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However, Zilisch came roaring back, reached as high as fifth place, before taken out by calamity late.—
Kevin Lyttle,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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