apocalyptic
Americanadjective
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of or like an apocalypse; affording a revelation or prophecy.
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pertaining to the Apocalypse or biblical book of Revelation.
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predicting or presaging imminent disaster and total or universal destruction.
the apocalyptic vision of some contemporary writers.
adjective
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outstanding in revelation, prophecy, or significance
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of or like an apocalypse
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of apocalyptic
1620–30; < Late Greek apokalýptikos, equivalent to apokalýpt ( ein ) to uncover, disclose ( see apocalypse) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
The lyrics of a popular song from the 1980’s by the band REM go, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” This song’s tune may be catchy but the sentiment is rather apocalyptic — since it refers to the final destruction of the world. The base word of apocalyptic, apocalypse, means "ultimate doom." This scenario is most famously described in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, but the concept is used in reference to many extreme catastrophes. For example, the devastating conditions left behind after a hurricane or tornado has hit an area can be said to be apocalyptic. Often, this adjective is used for exaggeration, so you could also use apocalyptic to describe the bad haircut you just got.
Vocabulary lists containing apocalyptic
This Week in Words: December 2 - 8, 2017
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This Week in Words: September 10 - 16, 2017
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The Book Thief
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pastor Joseph Hutchinson began a recent Sunday sermon by pointing to the Book of Revelation, the final part of the New Testament best known for apocalyptic prophecy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
For all the apocalyptic overtones in the film, Gibney doesn’t want audiences to come away feeling hopeless.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Even before the GPT-2 paper, A.I. insiders have been issuing apocalyptic, god-in-the-machine proclamations about this software, professing fears that observers rarely followed up on and that almost never lived up to scrutiny.
From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026
"It was almost apocalyptic," recalls retained firefighter Matt O'Hare, as he describes the scene that greeted him at the devastating wildfire in the New Forest.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
There were not many who paid attention to his apocalyptic talk, for the town was convinced that the priest was rambling because of his age.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
