variants
or cataclysmic
1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a cataclysmal decision to plunge the nation into war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cataclysmal
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
Avoiding a cataclysmic collapse seems to be about the ceiling for Detroit at the moment.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2025
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
Avoiding a cataclysmic collapse seems to be about the ceiling for Detroit at the moment.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
-
Schools’ failure to follow IEPs has resulted in disastrous cases of educational neglect for students like Makenley and Maddox O’Connor.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The New York Jets sent that message to Rodgers following a disastrous two-year term.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
His activism was sparked by the devastating floods and rains in Uganda.—
Aniebiet Ntui,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
After a turbulent few weeks, things only became more tense when Sean McLaughlin and Allyshia Gupta claimed to have information that could destroy the relationship.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Parubiy embodied Ukraine’s turbulent modern history.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared that famine has taken hold in Gaza, affecting more than half a million people—with catastrophic food insecurity already underway.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
To make a mistake with the first year’s winnings is not catastrophic if the winner is going to receive another 25 years’ worth of payments.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Researchers measured violent and property crime data from 2023, fatal car accidents, drug overdose deaths and excessive drinking rates.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Here’s what to know about the fatal crash.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share