adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˌkætəˈklɪzmɪk/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AE2 T AH0 K L IH1 Z M IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or pertaining to a cataclysm; causing great destruction or upheaval; catastrophic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
It is believed that a cataclysmic impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective satellite
Meaning 2
severely destructive
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
cataclysmic nuclear war
a cataclysmic earthquake
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cataclysmal
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English cataclysm Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English cataclysmic From cataclysm + -ic.
Across languages
Translations
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
cataclísmic
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Dutch:
cataclystisch
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Esperanto:
kataklisma
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Georgian:
კატაკლიზმური
(ḳaṭaḳlizmuri)
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
German:
katastrophal
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
German:
verheerend
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
German:
dramatisch
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Greek:
κατακλυσμικός
(kataklysmikós)
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Greek:
κατακλυσμιαίος
(kataklysmiaíos)
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Italian:
cataclismo
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Manx:
co-leaystagh
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Romanian:
cataclismic
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Spanish:
cataclísmico
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Swedish:
kataklysmisk
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
Welsh:
trychinebus
— of or pertaining to a cataclysm
