English vocabulary · C1
Cataclysm
/ˈkæt.ə.klɪz.əm/ · n.
It means a sudden, violent event that causes huge destruction and changes everything around it.
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Example sentences
- The earthquake was a cataclysm that destroyed the city.
- World War Two was a cataclysm that changed every nation.
Word origin and roots
from Greek
- cata — down (from Greek)
- clysm — wash (from Greek)
Synonyms and nuances
- DISASTER — a very bad event (General & Broad)
- CATASTROPHE — a sudden terrible event (Formal & Serious)
- CALAMITY — great harm or loss (Human Impact Focus)
Similar words
- disaster
- catastrophe
- calamity
Lesson notes
Cataclysm. It means a sudden, violent event that causes huge destruction and changes everything around it.
Similar words are disaster, catastrophe, and calamity. Use cataclysm when the destruction is massive and sudden.
The earthquake was a cataclysm that destroyed the city. World War Two was a cataclysm that changed every nation.
From Greek. Cata- means down. Clysm- means wash. A great wave washing everything down — that is a cataclysm.