Word
cataclysmic
Phoneticscat·a·clysmic
US/ˌkætəˈkɫɪzmɪk/
UK/kˌætɐklˈɪsmɪk/
Definition
adj. causing sudden, violent damage or very big change. You use it for events like earthquakes or wars that change everything.
adj. causing sudden and violent upheaval or large-scale destruction, often with lasting consequences. Often applied to natural disasters, wars, or failures that reshape systems or landscapes.
Examples
“The storm causes cataclysmic damage to the small town.”
“The earthquake brings cataclysmic destruction to the coastal city, leaving thousands without homes.”
“Historians still debate whether the empire's fall stemmed from gradual decline or a single cataclysmic invasion that shattered its trade networks overnight.”
Examples
simple
“The storm causes cataclysmic damage to the small town.”
contextual
“The earthquake brings cataclysmic destruction to the coastal city, leaving thousands without homes.”
complex
“Historians still debate whether the empire's fall stemmed from gradual decline or a single cataclysmic invasion that shattered its trade networks overnight.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cataclysmic” in context.
Verb
01. cataclysmic event occurs
“Geologists study the strata to determine when the last cataclysmic event occurred.”
adj + noun + verb
02. prevent cataclysmic
“Emergency measures were implemented to prevent a cataclysmic collapse of the banking system.”
verb + adj
03. survive cataclysmic
“Few species were able to survive the cataclysmic changes brought about by the ice age.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. potentially cataclysmic
“Scientists warned that a failure of the dam would have potentially cataclysmic results.”
adv + adj
05. truly cataclysmic
“The impact of the asteroid was truly cataclysmic, altering the planet's climate forever.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. cataclysmic change
“The industrial revolution brought about cataclysmic change to traditional rural life.”
adj + noun
07. cataclysmic event
“The extinction of the dinosaurs was triggered by a cataclysmic event.”
adj + noun
08. cataclysmic failure
“The mission ended in cataclysmic failure when the engine exploded mid-flight.”
adj + noun
09. cataclysmic war
“The region is still recovering from the effects of a cataclysmic war.”
adj + noun
10. consequences were cataclysmic
“When the bubble finally burst, the economic consequences were cataclysmic.”
11. result in cataclysmic loss
“The forest fires resulted in a cataclysmic loss of biodiversity.”
12. scale of cataclysmic
“It is difficult to comprehend the full scale of such a cataclysmic disaster.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also appears after linking verbs such as 'be' or 'prove'.
Real-World Examples
“When scientists tell you there is a chance, a chance that it could have a cataclysmic impact on humanity, you've got be a moron not to say, slow it down," he said on Thursday on BBC's Newsnight.” “The arrival of a cataclysmic asteroid strike helped quicken the end of the dinosaurs.” “Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont called on the nation’s top artificial intelligence companies to pause development of the technology, saying the corporations have already lost control of models that could cause “potentially cataclysmic results” for millions of people.” “Turk described the situation as "cataclysmic," reiterating the urgent need for the international mission, enhanced state interventions, broader sanctions, and stricter regulations on arms that are predominantly trafficked from the United States.” Etymology
From cataclysm + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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