variants
or cataclysmic
1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a cataclysmal decision to plunge the nation into war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
a cataclysmal landslide that virtually wiped out the village
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
the French Revolution was one of the great cataclysmal events in modern history
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cataclysmal
Amend and extend The situation in private credit has, so far, been a sort of slow-moving train wreck as opposed to a cataclysmic derailing.
—
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 May 2026
That world ended in cataclysmic war, the one that claimed the life of Alfred Louis Webb and so many others.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
While the Zizian ideology is extremist in nature, a less extreme version of the same fears surrounding the cataclysmic potential of AI are a common concern among AI alignment experts, machine-learning engineers, and even frontier AI companies.
—Daniel Boguslaw, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
The relative inertia in the January transfer market was very nearly a cataclysmic mistake, as was the installation of Igor Tudor.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Characteristically, Czernowin’s control of timbre, texture, and structure yields a kind of cataclysmic grandeur.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
By early June, ash and lava were escaping Pinatubo’s flanks, and an evacuation was ordered, just a few days before the cataclysmic hammer fell.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
The finale did keep the Grey’s tradition by kicking things off with a cataclysmic event when a major Seattle bridge collapsed.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 3 May 2026
Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 May 2026
That world ended in cataclysmic war, the one that claimed the life of Alfred Louis Webb and so many others.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
While the Zizian ideology is extremist in nature, a less extreme version of the same fears surrounding the cataclysmic potential of AI are a common concern among AI alignment experts, machine-learning engineers, and even frontier AI companies.
—Daniel Boguslaw, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2026
The relative inertia in the January transfer market was very nearly a cataclysmic mistake, as was the installation of Igor Tudor.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Characteristically, Czernowin’s control of timbre, texture, and structure yields a kind of cataclysmic grandeur.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
By early June, ash and lava were escaping Pinatubo’s flanks, and an evacuation was ordered, just a few days before the cataclysmic hammer fell.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026
The finale did keep the Grey’s tradition by kicking things off with a cataclysmic event when a major Seattle bridge collapsed.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Everyone experiences moments of existential despair, when one bad day or cataclysmic event sends you into a headspace that’s some combination of panic and self-reflection.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
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This study marks the first to use that data to model climate as rising temperatures are expected to fuel more disastrous events, from marine heat waves that kill coral to droughts.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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The 23-year-old four-time All-American at Virginia struggled all day and came away with a disastrous round of 8-over-par 78 that left him at 2-under and in a tie for 59th, 11 shots off the pace set by Jackson Suber, who was at 13-under.—
Staff And Wire Reports,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Our prayers continue for those in Congo who are facing this devastating epidemic and for the ongoing efforts to control the disease.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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Charles Crinklaw is trying to process the devastating loss suffered when a plane full of skydivers crashed Sunday in Butler, Missouri, killing everyone aboard.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Looking back at this turbulent year, rife with the usual industry concerns over the viability of the theatrical experience, young people’s slipping attention spans, and Hollywood’s overreliance on franchises, unearths a diverse crop of gems.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Dec. 2025
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Across several genres, Black filmmakers delivered work that resonated socially and artistically, offering optimism in a time when the industry and the world feel increasingly turbulent.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Other fatal skydiving crashes in Missouri Sunday’s crash was at least the fourth deadly skydiving incident in Missouri since 1998.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
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Under Brazilian law, the charge applies to cases in which someone engages in conduct that carries a fatal risk, even if there was no intent to kill, the outlet reported.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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The new strategy comes a day after 21 people were arrested at a watch party that became violent and destructive, according to a law enforcement official.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
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Clean energy should not mean a 140-mile transmission corridor cutting through sensitive landscapes when less destructive options may exist closer to the load center north of San Onofre.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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The unfortunate reality is that credit card rates rise quickly but fall slowly.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
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That’s especially unfortunate when the prior episode ended on a cliffhanger with a gang of armed and angry townspeople arriving at the Black Spot for Hank.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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For patients weighing the long-term implications of starting, stopping or cycling on and off these medications, the review suggests the metabolic stakes of regain may be less catastrophic than feared.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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Kenneth Bass is one of thousands of residents and business owners suing the city of Los Angeles and other entities over property loss and other damages suffered during the catastrophic Palisades fire.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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