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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataclysmal
Adjective
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Thuney, who was traded to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick in 2026, held up fairly well — even earning team MVP honors — until the disastrous Super Bowl LIX when Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times and hit five more.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025 -
According to a study by Beacon Economics, this has been particularly disastrous for workers, ages 16 to 19.—
Matt Fleming,
Orange County Register,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His defensive partner Cam Fowler called the injury devastating.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
The Athletic,
7 Mar. 2025
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One player tries to make a big move, only to watch that move ricochet in devastating fashion.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The turbulent decade that saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, President John F. Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King’s assassination, and the Vietnam War meant that home viewers were more open to escapism and entertainment that would whisk them away from the world's horrors.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2025
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Outside of turbulent foreign relations, the election comes at a critical time in Hollywood as the entertainment industry faces unprecedented uncertainty due to AI and plummeting profits.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The sheriff's office said Tuesday that the company that provides natural gas service for the home made no significant findings after looking for gas leaks and carbon monoxide, the colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal by depriving people from getting enough oxygen.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2025
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However, this condition raises your risk of esophageal cancer, which can be fatal.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
7 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cataclysmal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataclysmal. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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