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
The action begins when its setting, the special ward of Shinjuku City in the Tokyo metropolitan area, is destroyed in a cataclysmic earthquake and subsequently threatened by the demon world.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Other countries, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, also felt the cataclysmic impacts of Melissa.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
The cataclysmic stock market bust after the unprecedented high share prices of the Roaring Twenties plunged the world into the Great Depression.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
That worsening tensions could spiral into cataclysmic war is now all too imaginable.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
This cul-de-sac at the end of civilization feels like a physical manifestation of the loneliness Carol radiates even before the cataclysmic incident.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
This cataclysmic event would have melted and thoroughly mixed the entire planet, thereby resetting its chemical composition.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom — drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic and utterly magical new Norse saga.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
There's also the brute force approach, triggering chains of cataclysmic explosions to get the deconstruction rolling.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Other countries, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, also felt the cataclysmic impacts of Melissa.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
The cataclysmic stock market bust after the unprecedented high share prices of the Roaring Twenties plunged the world into the Great Depression.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
That worsening tensions could spiral into cataclysmic war is now all too imaginable.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
This cul-de-sac at the end of civilization feels like a physical manifestation of the loneliness Carol radiates even before the cataclysmic incident.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
This cataclysmic event would have melted and thoroughly mixed the entire planet, thereby resetting its chemical composition.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom — drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic and utterly magical new Norse saga.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
There's also the brute force approach, triggering chains of cataclysmic explosions to get the deconstruction rolling.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
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The Arizona Wildcats clobbered Colorado, 52-17, marking another disastrous defeat for Coach Prime.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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Gottlieb’s team, picked last in the Horizon League preseason poll, hopes to improve on last year’s disastrous 4-28 campaign.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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According to The New York Times, the death toll in Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa is now a devastating 28 — and that’s with dozens of communities still awaiting aid, as local authorities and humanitarian workers continue clearing debris.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
3 Nov. 2025
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Although private equity’s foray into the housing market is not new, the buyout of mobile home parks by investment firms is on the rise – with devastating consequences for residents.—
Cassie Powell,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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With those turbulent waters somewhat behind us, the ones under the ship claim another victim, and poor Britani runs off to throw up over the side of the boat.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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This election will likely be remembered as a beacon during a turbulent sea of democratic backsliding, restoring the values of a city which was built on immigrant innovation and an ethos of inclusion.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Yet a drumbeat of Mamdani’s past statements about Israel did not prove politically fatal in New York City in 2025.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
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The special explores theories about why the thieves targeted specific displays, who orchestrated this brazen operation and which fatal flaws in their plan ultimately led to their capture.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
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Such an event, let alone two within less than an hour of each other, is both unfortunate and potentially very suspicious.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In September, Typhoon Ragasa brought destructive winds and torrential rain to the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China as the strongest storm in the region this year.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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While Indonesia’s latest quakes did not generate tsunami alerts, past events have shown that similar offshore earthquakes can trigger destructive waves.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Drone footage showed catastrophic flooding that turned streets into rivers, submerged homes and overturned cars as Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, dumped more than a month’s worth of rain in only 24 hours in some areas.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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However, this approach defeats the primary purpose of insurance, which is to protect against catastrophic costs in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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