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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cataclysm
Humanity has been dealing with nefarious arch-villains, fire-breathing kaiju and world-ending cataclysms caused by forces beyond human comprehension for centuries.
—
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 12 July 2025
The most horrifying feature of this cataclysm occurred at a girls’ summer camp, where 27 children and counselors are confirmed to have died.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
Unlike during the pandemic, a cataclysm that played no favorites, the trade war is fast becoming a consumer marketing minefield.
—Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Dyer’s father was traumatized by the austerity of growing up in England between two military cataclysms, and his daily satisfaction is bound in his ability to pinch pences.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 12 July 2025
The most horrifying feature of this cataclysm occurred at a girls’ summer camp, where 27 children and counselors are confirmed to have died.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
Unlike during the pandemic, a cataclysm that played no favorites, the trade war is fast becoming a consumer marketing minefield.
—Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Dyer’s father was traumatized by the austerity of growing up in England between two military cataclysms, and his daily satisfaction is bound in his ability to pinch pences.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
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The road to the more remote east trailhead frequently floods and requires a high-clearance vehicle.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
-
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sri Lanka’s garment workers have borne the brunt of years of economic and political upheaval, which pushed inflation levels to impossible highs, devalued the national currency and caused the prices of basic commodities to soar beyond reach.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
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While those films were burned, what the West never knew was that those were not the only copies of these films as Hesse had stored the vast majority of the originals safely in London, away from the political upheaval.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
One look at the SRG landing page inspires an instant torrent of ideas on how to style each piece.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Needless to say, directing their actors through this torrent of deep feeling was its own challenge.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Because of its proximity to the stadium, Panoramic Hill is often first in line for disaster preparedness measures, including the thinning of brush and eucalyptus trees on the hill, Berkeley resident Kevin Casey said.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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And why this all might be a financial and environmental disaster waiting to happen.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cohen reflected on his decades-long career shaping artists’ journeys and ushering in the digital music revolution.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
22 Oct. 2025
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Placing martech in the company-wide strategy The AI revolution offers a rare second chance, according to McKinsey.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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In 2011, in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a zombie apocalypse preparedness guide that explained how readying oneself for a zombie apocalypse can prepare people for any large-scale disaster.—
Tom Duszynski,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The first is an earthquake that rattles the house into disarray.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Historical evidence suggests that a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck Alexandria centuries ago, causing much of the land to sink into the Mediterranean.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Kirk's murder is a tragedy – as is any murder.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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Here’s how a community dispute escalated into a deadly tragedy.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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