Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by cataclysms.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to a cataclysm; causing great destruction or upheaval; catastrophic.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective severely destructive

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From cataclysm +‎ -ic.

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Examples

  • Today we seem to have trouble picturing the future, except in cataclysmic terms or as the present gone worse ( "Children of Men").

    What Happened to the Future that Science Fiction Promised Us? 2007

  • Today we seem to have trouble picturing the future, except in cataclysmic terms or as the present gone worse ( "Children of Men").

    May 2007 2007

  • Life seldom deals in cataclysmic situations – at least on the surface.

    The Miller of Old Church 1911

  • Never mind that the long-term cataclysmic effects of subtracting about tens of millions of young, strong people from Africa over the course of a couple of centuries is a large part of the reason why Africa now appears so distasteful to you.

    SOHH Blogs 2008

  • However, things are not perfect: There are sound problems on “Night Train” that can only be described as cataclysmic, and Trask glares at the soundman.

    Chuck Klosterman on Rock Chuck Klosterman 2010

  • However, things are not perfect: There are sound problems on “Night Train” that can only be described as cataclysmic, and Trask glares at the soundman.

    Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs Chuck Klosterman 2003

  • However, things are not perfect: There are sound problems on “Night Train” that can only be described as cataclysmic, and Trask glares at the soundman.

    Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs Chuck Klosterman 2003

  • However, things are not perfect: There are sound problems on “Night Train” that can only be described as cataclysmic, and Trask glares at the soundman.

    Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs Chuck Klosterman 2003

  • However, things are not perfect: There are sound problems on “Night Train” that can only be described as cataclysmic, and Trask glares at the soundman.

    Appetite for Replication Chuck Klosterman 2003

  • Farmers are expected to receive about $479 million by 2012 for what the commission calls "cataclysmic and historic" losses.

    unknown title 2012

Comments

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  • WIZARD

    ...I -- ah -- on the contr -- -- Here --

    Well, you force me into a cataclysmic

    decision. The only way to get Dorothy back

    to Kansas is for me to take her there myself!

    June 10, 2010

  • this... is... my... FAVORITE WORD!!! :D

    November 18, 2011