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
The younger black hole, the product of a cataclysmic cosmic event known as a black hole merger, was first spotted in 2019.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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
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
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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
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
-
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
-
Last year demonstrated that late September and early October can be an active period for tropical development, with multiple threats that may be high-impact and potentially devastating.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Without the right resources, developers face burnout, community dissatisfaction, or the devastating fate that their games never reach their full potential.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Giant chronicles a turbulent time in the life of famed children’s author Dahl when he was accused of anti-Semitism in the early 1980s.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As the biomaterials space navigates a more turbulent landscape marked by tightening budgets, regulatory uncertainty, and investor caution, Biofabricate is adapting its approach.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is a potentially catastrophic mistake.—
Ajay Pundhir,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Arena aims to provide value by helping companies to avoid catastrophic machine failures and reduce the effort necessary to complete safety and maintenance.—
Aman Kidwai,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Prepared Social Feed Posts Automation promises efficiency but can’t accommodate nuance, context or situational changes that a human would change course for (think competitive move, environmental crisis, fatal tragedy, and so on).—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show was suspended indefinitely following the host's comments on the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share