# cataclysmic

/ˌkætəˈkɫɪzmɪk/ (US) · /kˌætɐklˈɪsmɪk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

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

## Definition

causing sudden, violent damage or very big change. You use it for events like earthquakes or wars that change everything.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies; also appears after linking verbs such as 'be' or 'prove'.

---

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.