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
Some plants are quiet survivors, outlasting cataclysms that reshaped the planet itself.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The Black Death, the bubonic plague that tore into England in 1348, was — this should not need saying — a cataclysm.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 28 May 2025
The film begins, as usual, with a vision of cataclysm: a Space Needle–esque building that both collapses and explodes.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
Produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, the film is about the financial cataclysm that hit New York City in 1975, when the powers that be figured out that the city was $6 billion in debt.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The Black Death, the bubonic plague that tore into England in 1348, was — this should not need saying — a cataclysm.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 28 May 2025
The film begins, as usual, with a vision of cataclysm: a Space Needle–esque building that both collapses and explodes.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
Produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn, the film is about the financial cataclysm that hit New York City in 1975, when the powers that be figured out that the city was $6 billion in debt.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cataclysm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysm
Noun
-
The Baltimore area is under a flood watch, as thunderstorms and damaging winds are possible Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
14 July 2025
-
Currently, the death toll from the July 4 floods has reached at least 132 people, with over 160 people listed as missing.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Concerns among Democrats may have been expected in California, given the state’s liberal tilt and the widespread and relentless government upheaval since President Trump took office in January.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
-
Uranus is the harbinger of change and upheaval, the disruptor that challenges the status quo.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Fucci, who was staying near the Guadalupe River, filmed on her phone a torrent of muddy water flooding the road to her grandmother's house.—
Susan Miller,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
-
Trump’s second term has unleashed a torrent of assaults on protest and dissent, from revoking visas and disappearing activists, to withholding federal funds from universities that won’t dismantle diversity initiatives.—
Time,
Time,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
As someone takes on roles that have elements of power associated with it, that can be a recipe for disaster.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The toxic combination led rebel Republican Sen. Thom Tillis to denounce it as a political disaster.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Johnny Rotten) — inarguably the most iconic figure of the Seventies U.K. punk revolution — and the band was attempting to move forward without him following years of acrimony, nasty barbs in the press, and a massive legal row that brought band tensions to an all-time high.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
12 July 2025
-
In fact, Prime members can snag this $400 stick vacuum with an impressive motor speed of 85,000 revolutions per minute for a whopping 73 percent off now.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The film, as per the press notes, redefines human fears in the face of apocalypse in a contemporary dystopia that puts Black and Indigenous characters at the center of a story about people defending their land from those who would kill them for it without a second thought.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 July 2025
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Ramsey currently stars as apocalypse survivor Ellie on the HBO zombie drama The Last of Us; it was renewed for Season 3 in April, days ahead of the Season 2 premiere.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
On Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, a flurry of small earthquakes shook the Iliamna volcano on June 15.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
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While much of America has moved past COVID-19, the pandemic that hit the industry like an earthquake continues to experience aftershocks.—
Alexander Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
For past campers, the tragedy turned happy memories into grief.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 July 2025
-
While most Americans celebrated Independence Day, a tragedy unfolded in Central Texas.—
The Editors,
National Review,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cataclysm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysm. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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