1
as in flood
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
an ancient cataclysm that may have been the basis for the Flood described in the Bible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in catastrophe
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
the earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755, killing 30,000 people, was one of the greatest cataclysms ever recorded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
a social cataclysm that gave rise to a new world order
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 cataclysm
So, the researchers have theorized that a super-heated ash cloud that dissipated quickly was actually the first event in the Vesuvius cataclysm.
—
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
Pirate Borg focuses on nautical fantasy by setting this cataclysm during the golden age of piracy.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Perfect atmospheric mix for ferocious storm The atmospheric stew that gave birth to the ferocious cataclysm was literally a perfect storm.
—John O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Ezekiel did his prophesying from exile before and after the destruction of the First Temple in the Babylonian conquest of 586 B.C.E., another defining cataclysm in Jewish history.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
Pirate Borg focuses on nautical fantasy by setting this cataclysm during the golden age of piracy.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Perfect atmospheric mix for ferocious storm The atmospheric stew that gave birth to the ferocious cataclysm was literally a perfect storm.
—John O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Ezekiel did his prophesying from exile before and after the destruction of the First Temple in the Babylonian conquest of 586 B.C.E., another defining cataclysm in Jewish history.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
-
Best Option Restoration is a nationally franchised disaster restoration business that handles wind and storm damage, fire damage, flood/water damage, and contents cleanout to residential and commercial customers.—
Ethan Stone,
USA TODAY,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Brown saw 3 feet of water flood her home in a predominantly Black neighborhood that still shows damage from the storm.—
Jesse Coburn,
ProPublica,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
She's recently had to cope with a considerable amount of upheaval due to the work being done on the property.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Pinpointing the traits that boost survivorship during more stable periods and times of planetary upheaval might help scientists and conservationists protect today’s most vulnerable species.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Campos Mello broke a series of stories about businessmen who were financing a torrent of WhatsApp messages that denigrated Haddad.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Hub’s new gig unleashes a torrent of comically exaggerated gore and populates his world with even more colorful characters.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The disaster led to passage of the Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act, which in turn added the miners' surveillance program under the respiratory health division at NIOSH.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Last month, the EU Commission urged its 450 million citizens to stockpile enough food, water and essentials for 72 hours in the event of emergencies like cyberattacks, climate disasters, disease and also geopolitical conflicts.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Scully, Sand, and the Brotherhood were determined to flood the market, bringing the price of revolution back down to earth.—
John Semley,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The real revolution in the space economy isn't rockets.—
Reema Khan,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The exquisite adaptation of the popular video game delivered a stunning first season in early 2023 that reanimated the zombie apocalypse genre.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The Bondsman never seems to know quite how seriously to take the state of Hub’s soul, or the looming possibility of apocalypse, or all the many, many deaths along the way.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Nearly 100 earthquake victims were already waiting for surgery when the team arrived.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
More-complex solutions, which center on customized storage and display options, range from hiring a mount-maker to creating a base-isolation unit—a specialized earthquake mount pioneered by his department at the Getty.—
Carol Kino,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
These events devastate local communities not just as the tragedy unfolds but in its aftermath.—
Shoshi Parks,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Instagram comment sections are flooded with hearts and flowers; the media memorializes a tragedy.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share