cataclysmic
World-endingly severe
Cataclysmic describes events of violent, large-scale destruction or upheaval.
A cataclysmic earthquake levels cities; a cataclysmic flood reshapes landscapes.
The word often appears in geological or cosmic contexts: the cataclysmic asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs.
Figuratively, it applies to any sudden, devastating change: a cataclysmic defeat, cataclysmic consequences for the economy.
Seismic ground movement
- volcanoEarth's fiery vent
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- eruptionViolent sudden release
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
seismic · tremor · magnitude · epicenter · aftershock · faultline · rift · fissure
Causing great damage
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- ruinousCausing severe destruction
- devastatingCausing severe damage
- direExtremely serious or urgent
fatal · tragic · deadly · severe · harrowing · disastrous · calamity · catastrophe
Severe widespread destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- rubbleBroken building fragments
wreckage · desolation · decimation · demolition · collapse · shattered · aftermath · total destruction
Prophesied concluding era
- ArmageddonProphesied ultimate conflict
- RagnarokNorse end of days
- doomsdayProphesied world's end
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
annihilation · Revelation · eschatology · tribulation · last days · millenarianism · omega · prophecy
Violent disturbance of order
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- paradigm shiftWholesale replacement of frameworks
- sea changeRadical, thorough transformation
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
watershed · metamorphosis · overhaul · restructuring · reformation · rebirth · renewal · epoch-making
Strikingly impressive to behold
- monumentalExceptionally large or significant
- colossalExtremely large in scale
- immenseExtremely large in scope
- staggeringShockingly impressive or unsteady
earth-shattering · thunderous · explosive · violent · sudden · overwhelming · intense · powerful
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
tectonics · seismic · tremor · magnitude · epicenter · aftershock · faultline · rift · fissure · supervolcano
calamitous
Causing great damage
- catastrophicCausing complete destruction
- ruinousCausing severe destruction
- devastatingCausing severe damage
dire · fatal · tragic · deadly · severe · harrowing · disastrous · calamity · catastrophe · mass casualty
devastation
Severe widespread destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
rubble · wreckage · desolation · decimation · demolition · collapse · shattered · aftermath · total destruction · wasteland
end-times
Prophesied concluding era
- ArmageddonProphesied ultimate conflict
- RagnarokNorse end of days
- doomsdayProphesied world's end
extinction · annihilation · Revelation · eschatology · tribulation · last days · millenarianism · omega · prophecy · end of days
upheaval
Violent disturbance of order
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- paradigm shiftWholesale replacement of frameworks
- sea changeRadical, thorough transformation
turning point · watershed · metamorphosis · overhaul · restructuring · reformation · rebirth · renewal · epoch-making · irreversible
spectacular
Strikingly impressive to behold
- monumentalExceptionally large or significant
- colossalExtremely large in scale
- immenseExtremely large in scope
staggering · earth-shattering · thunderous · explosive · violent · sudden · overwhelming · intense · powerful · climactic
- destroyeddestroyed, demolished, annihilated, obliterated, decimated
cataclysmicminor
Scale with lowered third
trivial · negligible · insignificant · inconsequential · trifling
cataclysmicbeneficial
Producing good results
constructive · restorative · regenerative · healing · salutary
cataclysmicgradual
Developing slowly over time
incremental · gentle · progressive · slow · evolutionary
- cataclysmic eventsDisasters causing massive sudden change