1
: of, subject to, or caused by an earthquake
also
: of or relating to an earth vibration caused by something else (such as an explosion or the impact of a meteorite)
2
: of or relating to a vibration on a celestial body (such as the moon) comparable to a seismic event on earth
3
: having a strong or widespread impact : earthshaking
seismic social changes
Examples of seismic in a Sentence
Seismic social changes have occurred.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eleven years, three months, and 20 days ago my life’s story was forever altered by a single seismic event—my beloved mother departed this world.
—
Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 6 June 2024
The eruption was preceded by an increase in seismic activity at Kilauea's summit Sunday, an indication that magma was moving below the surface, according to the observatory.
—Alex Sundby, CBS News, 4 June 2024
The mass entry of women into Mexican politics in the past few years has come alongside seismic demographic and cultural shifts that have transformed the country.
—Marian Carrasquero Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, New York Times, 1 June 2024
With another potentially seismic term concluding in the next three months, the court has an opportunity to rise above the partisan turbulence of Washington again.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seismic 
Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 6 June 2024
The eruption was preceded by an increase in seismic activity at Kilauea's summit Sunday, an indication that magma was moving below the surface, according to the observatory.
—Alex Sundby, CBS News, 4 June 2024
The mass entry of women into Mexican politics in the past few years has come alongside seismic demographic and cultural shifts that have transformed the country.
—Marian Carrasquero Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, New York Times, 1 June 2024
With another potentially seismic term concluding in the next three months, the court has an opportunity to rise above the partisan turbulence of Washington again.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seismic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seismic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near seismic
Cite this Entry
“Seismic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seismic. Accessed 11 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seismic
adjective
seis·mic
ˈsīz-mik 
ˈsīs-
: of, subject to, or caused by an earthquake or an earth vibration caused by something else (as an explosion)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share