cataclysm

noun
UK: /kəˈtæklɪzəm/
US: /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/

  1. A sudden, violent event causing great destruction and change.

    1. The flood was a cataclysm.
    2. The war brought economic cataclysm to the small island nation, and people struggled.

  2. A large-scale disaster or catastrophe.

    1. The disease was a cataclysm.
    2. The environmental cataclysm was predicted by scientists years before it occurred.

  3. A momentous event that results in upheaval or significant alteration.

    1. The revolution was a cataclysm.
    2. The invention of the internet represented a technological cataclysm reshaping society.

Synonyms

catastrophe tragedy upheaval calamity disaster

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cataclysm" in English means: A sudden, violent event causing great destruction and change., A large-scale disaster or catastrophe., A momentous event that results in upheaval or significant alteration..

The phonetic transcription of "cataclysm" is /kəˈtæklɪzəm/ in British English and /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cataclysm": catastrophe, tragedy, upheaval, calamity, disaster.

Example usage of "cataclysm": "The flood was a cataclysm.". More examples on the page.