apocalyptic

adjective

apoc·​a·​lyp·​tic ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-tik 

variants or less commonly apocalyptical

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-ti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling an apocalypse

apocalyptic events

2

: forecasting the ultimate destiny of the world : prophetic

apocalyptic warnings

3

: foreboding imminent disaster or final doom : terrible

apocalyptic signs of the coming end-times

4

: wildly unrestrained : grandiose

5

: ultimately decisive : climactic

an apocalyptic battle

apocalyptically

ə-ˌpä-kə-ˈlip-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• climacteric
• climactic

Examples of apocalyptic in a Sentence

No one listened to her apocalyptic predictions.

a less apocalyptic view of the future

the apocalyptic destruction of the world

Recent Examples on the Web

When Nete decides to join her family in an apocalyptic cult, Edgar finds himself at a crossroads. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 Sep. 2024

But this isn’t the first time that Musk has forecast an apocalyptic scenario that will doom society. —William Gavin, Quartz, 23 Sep. 2024

In stark contrast to other apocalyptic thrillers like the first two A Quiet Place(s) and the recent Mad Max features, where people of color were few and far between, 40 Acres gets very explicit about how the Freemans’ racial identities shape their experiences in the end times. —Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 15 Sep. 2024

Most ominously, Christian nationalists are more likely than other Americans to think about politics in apocalyptic terms and are about twice as likely as other Americans to believe political violence may be justified in our current circumstances. —Robert P. Jones, TIME, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin apocalypticus, derivative of apocalypsis apocalypse, by analogy with pairs such as ellīpsis ellipsis : ellīpticus elliptic

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1