variants
or cataclysmic
1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a cataclysmal decision to plunge the nation into war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
a cataclysmal landslide that virtually wiped out the village
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
the French Revolution was one of the great cataclysmal events in modern history
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cataclysmal
Amend and extend The situation in private credit has, so far, been a sort of slow-moving train wreck as opposed to a cataclysmic derailing.
—
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 May 2026
That world ended in cataclysmic war, the one that claimed the life of Alfred Louis Webb and so many others.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
While the Zizian ideology is extremist in nature, a less extreme version of the same fears surrounding the cataclysmic potential of AI are a common concern among AI alignment experts, machine-learning engineers, and even frontier AI companies.
—Daniel Boguslaw, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
The relative inertia in the January transfer market was very nearly a cataclysmic mistake, as was the installation of Igor Tudor.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Characteristically, Czernowin’s control of timbre, texture, and structure yields a kind of cataclysmic grandeur.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
By early June, ash and lava were escaping Pinatubo’s flanks, and an evacuation was ordered, just a few days before the cataclysmic hammer fell.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
The finale did keep the Grey’s tradition by kicking things off with a cataclysmic event when a major Seattle bridge collapsed.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 3 May 2026
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 May 2026
That world ended in cataclysmic war, the one that claimed the life of Alfred Louis Webb and so many others.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
While the Zizian ideology is extremist in nature, a less extreme version of the same fears surrounding the cataclysmic potential of AI are a common concern among AI alignment experts, machine-learning engineers, and even frontier AI companies.
—Daniel Boguslaw, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
The relative inertia in the January transfer market was very nearly a cataclysmic mistake, as was the installation of Igor Tudor.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Characteristically, Czernowin’s control of timbre, texture, and structure yields a kind of cataclysmic grandeur.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
By early June, ash and lava were escaping Pinatubo’s flanks, and an evacuation was ordered, just a few days before the cataclysmic hammer fell.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
The finale did keep the Grey’s tradition by kicking things off with a cataclysmic event when a major Seattle bridge collapsed.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
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This study marks the first to use that data to model climate as rising temperatures are expected to fuel more disastrous events, from marine heat waves that kill coral to droughts.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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The next two decades were mostly disastrous.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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San Antonio is looking to bounce back after falling short of a comeback in a devastating manner in Game 2.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
9 June 2026
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Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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The discovery is so surprising because even though AGNs are rich with gas and dust — the building blocks of planets — the turbulent conditions within the disks wouldn't generally be considered ideal for forming planets.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 June 2026
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The weekend’s severe weather follows a turbulent stretch earlier this week, when severe weather placed 13 million people under flood watches and triggered widespread power outages.—
Christine Rapp,
NBC news,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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The fatal bear encounter at Glacier National Park occurred in the same week that two hikers were injured in a bear attack at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, according to the park service.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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The Sheriff’s Office did not release any details about a motive or what might have led to the fatal shooting.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Declan Rice — England/Arsenal A monster athlete who makes his destructive presence felt all over the pitch and can drive his team forward with the ball at his feet, as well as providing world-class set-piece delivery.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
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The new strategy comes a day after 21 people were arrested at a watch party that became violent and destructive, according to a law enforcement official.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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So that was just an unfortunate situation, but everything’s OK.—
Zach Dean,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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Getting into a dispute with your neighbor is an unfortunate but all-too-common predicament for many homeowners.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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For patients weighing the long-term implications of starting, stopping or cycling on and off these medications, the review suggests the metabolic stakes of regain may be less catastrophic than feared.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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Kenneth Bass is one of thousands of residents and business owners suing the city of Los Angeles and other entities over property loss and other damages suffered during the catastrophic Palisades fire.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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