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
The effect can't be explained by lava temperatures alone, but rather a different event from the cataclysm.
—
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
When neutron stars merge, plus possibly when other stellar cataclysms (such as supernovae or exploding white dwarfs) occur, both U-235 and U-238 are produced.
—Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
Uranium, for example, is created in stellar cataclysms, with kilonova events — or colliding and merging neutron stars that don’t immediately form a black hole — doing the majority of creation for this element and its isotopes.
—Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
Furthermore, there are the nebulae that result from stellar cataclysms, or violent events that trigger a star or stellar remnant’s destruction.
—Big Think, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 28 Feb. 2025
When neutron stars merge, plus possibly when other stellar cataclysms (such as supernovae or exploding white dwarfs) occur, both U-235 and U-238 are produced.
—Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
Uranium, for example, is created in stellar cataclysms, with kilonova events — or colliding and merging neutron stars that don’t immediately form a black hole — doing the majority of creation for this element and its isotopes.
—Big Think, 10 Apr. 2025
Furthermore, there are the nebulae that result from stellar cataclysms, or violent events that trigger a star or stellar remnant’s destruction.
—Big Think, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
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But amid the worries about bridge collapses and floods and species extinction and famine, a teacher named Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) primarily spends his time trying to calm his students and their parents about the fact that the internet is down.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 June 2025
-
The devastation caused by climate change — wildfires, floods, excessive heat, more numerous and catastrophic storms — is wreaking havoc on the planet.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
Noun
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His resignation, fueled by discontent over his family’s apparent lavish spending and luxurious lifestyle, marks the latest political upheaval in the Asian nation’s longstanding fight against corruption.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
Automakers brace for policy upheaval Automakers knew that Trump's election would bring huge changes to EV policy.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
In the days after her speech, the young graduate has received nationwide media attention, along with a torrent of ardent support and biting criticism.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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Following a torrent of polls released over the last few weeks, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, the few polls released this week indicate a slight uptick in support for the president.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Noun
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Similarly, the market-resilience work performed by a lab at the University of California, Davis, offers solutions to farmers and agricultural communities that are vulnerable to intensifying weather disasters.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
Federal database that tracked costly weather disasters no longer being updated How to prepare for an earthquake disaster Huge earthquakes have long been an existential crisis for millions along the West Coast, as described in a 2022 USA TODAY article.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Each episode explores a pivotal or outrageous moment in marijuana history—from ancient tokes to cultural revolutions—blending humor with surprisingly rich education.—
Matt Rozo,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
-
The artificial intelligence revolution has reached a critical inflection point.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Now almost all of them are missing their crowns, a beech apocalypse.—
Robert Sullivan,
Curbed,
9 June 2025
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Shopping and Consumer Behavior The retail apocalypse?—
Charell G. Coleman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Buying earthquake insurance can protect homeowners.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
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The Mount Kinabalu earthquake of 2015 claimed 18 lives, including Singaporean students and teachers who had traveled to Borneo on a school expedition.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Each of these tragedies reverberates through their departments and communities, amplifying the sense of vulnerability and loss.—
Jillian E. Snider,
Boston Herald,
13 June 2025
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Just hours before the accident, Kapur made a tribute to the Air India plane crash tragedy.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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