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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cataclysmal
Back then, many conservatives treated the Epstein files as a skeleton key promising cataclysmic revelations about elite depravity and corruption.
—
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
However, this peaceful present is only the result of the planet’s past cataclysmic events.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025
Under Musk's vision, humans would not just step on the planet before departing, but would remain to establish a settlement that could function independently if any cataclysmic event were to ever happen on Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
With the shift in focus has come a cataclysmic upheaval in personnel.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
That the planet in question almost immediately suffers a cataclysmic event, badly damaging the Farragut, doesn’t exactly support the wisdom of his argument.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
The cataclysmic effect of her unexpected arrival suggests that soon her vocabulary will expand to include more such ominous language.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Something cataclysmic would have to happen for them not to bring him back next year.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Let’s revisit the cataclysmic event that creates this whole divide, which is Gladys marrying.
—Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
However, this peaceful present is only the result of the planet’s past cataclysmic events.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025
Under Musk's vision, humans would not just step on the planet before departing, but would remain to establish a settlement that could function independently if any cataclysmic event were to ever happen on Earth.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
With the shift in focus has come a cataclysmic upheaval in personnel.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
That the planet in question almost immediately suffers a cataclysmic event, badly damaging the Farragut, doesn’t exactly support the wisdom of his argument.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
The cataclysmic effect of her unexpected arrival suggests that soon her vocabulary will expand to include more such ominous language.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Something cataclysmic would have to happen for them not to bring him back next year.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Let’s revisit the cataclysmic event that creates this whole divide, which is Gladys marrying.
—Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
-
The effect was disastrous, my hair crimped weirdly, with sections shooting out in different directions like the discordant notes of an orchestra tuning up.—
Rachel Kushner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
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The mid-quarter update offered a glimmer of hope after Six Flags’ disastrous second quarter earnings report in August.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Schools, churches, small shops that survived the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed over 300,000 are now a pile of rubble, part of the apocalyptic landscape left behind by the retreating forces that control almost all of Haiti’s capital.—
Johnny Fils-Aimé,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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His activism was sparked by the devastating floods and rains in Uganda.—
Aniebiet Ntui,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That's up 16% from 512,000 savers who broke into seven digits on their 401(k) statements in the first quarter's turbulent market.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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The verdict was the final of three judgements against the powerful Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thailand’s turbulent and often violent political scene for more than 20 years.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Legislators should realize that a simple law meant to avert potential catastrophic risks seems like an existential risk to those who oppose it.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Fire is the most catastrophic event possible on a yacht, a plane, or a car.—
Rachel Ingram,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Video of the fatal attack showed Kirk speaking to a large crowd of people on the university campus as a shot rings out.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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Though Kirk's visit was controversial on campus, police were tracking no specific or credible threats before the fatal shooting, Utah law enforcement sources told ABC News.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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