apocalyptic

Also a·poc·a·lyp·ti·cal

[uh-pok-uh-lip-tik]

adjective

1. of or like an apocalypse; affording a revelation or prophecy.

2. pertaining to the Apocalypse or biblical book of Revelation.

3. predicting or presaging imminent disaster and total or universal destruction.

   the apocalyptic vision of some contemporary writers.

Other Word Forms

• apocalyptically adverb
• postapocalyptic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apocalyptic¹

1620–30; < Late Greek apokalýptikos, equivalent to apokalýpt ( ein ) to uncover, disclose ( apocalypse ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Not thankful: All the hand-wringing and apocalyptic soothsaying about how artificial intelligence is a Pandora’s box that will steal our jobs and ultimately spell our doom.

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A plant that was once romantic is now, some fear, verging on the apocalyptic.

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Unfortunately, too many people on the left and right now traffic in apocalyptic scenarios should their political opponents prevail.

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“It has been my experience that apocalyptic forecasts on the U.S. financial markets are rarely realized within limited horizons,” one investor wrote to Burry.

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Germany's foreign minister described the situation in Sudan as "apocalyptic" on Saturday as reports of atrocities emerged after El-Fasher fell to paramilitaries, with Britain's top diplomat also bemoaning the crisis.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• ominous 
• prophetic