# cataclysm

/ˈkætəˌkɫɪsəm/ (US) · /kˈætɐklˌɪzəm/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cataclysm
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

a sudden and violent event that causes great change or destruction. It can describe a natural disaster like a flood or a huge social change like a war.

For teachers: a sudden, violent event that causes extensive damage or fundamental upheaval. Often used to describe geological disasters or major political and social shifts.

## Examples

- The earthquake was a cataclysm that destroyed the entire city.
- Historians argue that the sudden collapse of the empire was a cataclysm that reshaped the continent's borders for centuries.
- The asteroid impact represented a biological cataclysm, triggering a mass extinction event that permanently altered the evolutionary trajectory of life on Earth.

## Synonyms

catastrophe, calamity, disaster, upheaval, convulsion

## Antonyms

blessing, godsend

## Usage notes

- Frequently used in both literal geological contexts and figurative socio-political contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.