Meaning & use
cataclysmic
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Causing sudden and violent destruction or upheaval on a very large scale.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a cataclysmic eruption. It can also follow a verb.
Patterns
- a cataclysmic event
- cataclysmic change
The cataclysmic eruption buried the city in ash.
Scientists warned of cataclysmic floods.
A cataclysmic earthquake destroyed the harbor.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Bringing very serious, usually harmful, change, though not always physical; often used for dramatic effect.
Grammar: Often used figuratively for economic or political events.
Patterns
- cataclysmic consequences
- cataclysmic collapse
The company's cataclysmic losses shocked investors.
The war had cataclysmic consequences for the region.
The merger ended in a cataclysmic failure.
Word forms
| comparative | more cataclysmic |
|---|---|
| superlative | most cataclysmic |
Common combinations
- cataclysmic event
- A cataclysmic event wiped out the dinosaurs.
- cataclysmic change
- The revolution brought cataclysmic change.
- cataclysmic consequences
- Ignoring the warning had cataclysmic consequences.
- cataclysmic scale
- The disaster was of cataclysmic scale.
- cataclysmic collapse
- The cataclysmic collapse of the market ruined many.
Synonyms and how they differ
- catastrophic
- Catastrophic is the more common word and covers any disastrous result, while cataclysmic suggests violent upheaval.
- disastrous
- Disastrous is general and can describe a minor failure, but cataclysmic is reserved for huge events.
- devastating
- Devastating stresses the damage or emotional blow caused.
- apocalyptic
- Apocalyptic suggests the end of the world and is even more extreme.
Opposites
Word family
- cataclysm noun
- a violent event that causes great upheaval
- cataclysmically adverb
- in a sudden and violent way
- catastrophe noun
- a sudden great disaster
Commonly confused: cataclysmic or catechism?
cataclysmic vs catechism
A catechism is a set of religious questions and answers, which is unrelated even though it looks similar.
Practice
Geologists believe a ___ volcanic eruption changed the climate across the planet.
Choose one answer.
Cataclysmic means causing violent, large-scale destruction, which fits a planet-changing eruption. Categorical means absolute, which is a tempting but different idea.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cataclysmic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.