Synonyms for cataclysmic
- adjective
Most common
devastating disastrous catastrophic calamitous cataclysmical
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Catastrophic
catastrophic, calamitous, devastating, disastrous, destructive, fatal, dismal, cataclysmal, ruinous
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Of or pertaining to a cataclysm; causing great destruction or upheaval; catastrophic.
It is believed that a cataclysmic impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Related words
- Other spellings
- cataclysmatic
Example sentences
- devastating The depredation of the courthouse was devastating.
- disastrous This can have disastrous results for your career.
- catastrophic A nuclear war would have catastrophic consequences.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| cataclysmic | rising | |
| devastating | rising | |
| disastrous | falling | |
| catastrophic | rising | |
| calamitous | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- fatal2
- 6 letters
- dismal2
- 7 letters
- ruinous3
- 10 letters
- disastrous3, calamitous4
- 11 letters
- devastating4, destructive3, cataclysmal
- 12 letters
- catastrophic4
- 13 letters
- cataclysmical
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fatal2 = 2 syllables).