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
With war looming and chaos consuming the kingdom —drawing in the ruthless kings of other Scandinavian countries and even a powerful English ruler — the stage is set for a thundering, cataclysmic, compelling, and utterly magical new Norse saga.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Each of these impact sites stands testament to the violence of its creation — cataclysmic collisions that carved vast basins in the lunar surface, while hurling debris miles across the face of Earth's natural satellite.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Jan. 2026
When there are no cataclysmic floods, there are rampaging wildfires.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
When a cataclysmic battle kills both He-Man (Chris Wood) and Skeletor (Mark Hamill), former enemies Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Evil-Lyn (Lena Headey) must join forces to restore magic to the universe and save their dying planet.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Overall the second season is steadily chipping away at the idea that any individual actors could actually be responsible for decisions this cataclysmic, and that’s an interesting, counterintuitive suggestion for a video-game adaptation since the experience of playing one is so singular.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Which renders the cataclysmic decision of who Nancy might choose to snog next rather anticlimactic, and maybe even redundant.
—Charley Ross, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2025
Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025
Not only are the structures ancient, Donnellan argued, but there appears to be evidence of a cataclysmic event — not unheard of, as the island lies near the Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Each of these impact sites stands testament to the violence of its creation — cataclysmic collisions that carved vast basins in the lunar surface, while hurling debris miles across the face of Earth's natural satellite.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 25 Jan. 2026
When there are no cataclysmic floods, there are rampaging wildfires.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
When a cataclysmic battle kills both He-Man (Chris Wood) and Skeletor (Mark Hamill), former enemies Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Evil-Lyn (Lena Headey) must join forces to restore magic to the universe and save their dying planet.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Overall the second season is steadily chipping away at the idea that any individual actors could actually be responsible for decisions this cataclysmic, and that’s an interesting, counterintuitive suggestion for a video-game adaptation since the experience of playing one is so singular.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Which renders the cataclysmic decision of who Nancy might choose to snog next rather anticlimactic, and maybe even redundant.
—Charley Ross, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2025
Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 28 Nov. 2025
Not only are the structures ancient, Donnellan argued, but there appears to be evidence of a cataclysmic event — not unheard of, as the island lies near the Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
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The Chargers’ $262 million man fell to 0-3 in the playoffs, each of those defeats distinctly disastrous.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Purdy, rendered ineffective by a torn ligament in his right elbow on the opening drive against the Eagles in a disastrous NFC title game loss three seasons ago, completed all three passes for 74 yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.—
Dan Gelston,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His co-owner and friend, Elia Carranza, described the loss as devastating.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Seattle famously did not hand off to star running back Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson’s pass was intercepted by Malcolm Butler, sealing a Patriots win and putting a devastating end to the Seahawks’ season.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Described as more of a tonal companion to The Worm than a direct continuation, The Answerers is equal parts existential thriller and absurdist comedy, exploring belief, delusion and the human need for meaning in an increasingly turbulent modern world.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
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One analyst argues that Bitcoin could sink even more, given the turbulent macroeconomic environment.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier this month proved to Carlson and other Minnesotans that the potential for danger as an observer was not abstract.—
Michael Williams,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Noem has been under increasing scrutiny following Saturday’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal authorities in Minneapolis.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Toni Preckwinkle has served the city of Chicago and Cook County ably throughout her long political career and done much to make life better for the unfortunate among us.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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French Stewart played Harry Solomon, who was known for his odd posture, nervous energy, and the unfortunate fact that alien messages arrived through his head.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Wuthering Heights is a dark and gothic tale of destructive, obsessive, conflicting romance.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
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This is destructive and absurd.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Brown’s primary worry is that the climate will continue to warm and the ice sheet in Greenland will continue to melt at its current rate, which could lead to a catastrophic rise in sea levels.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Jan. 2026
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Power outages still remain in the South following the catastrophic ice impacts of last weekend’s storm.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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