Synonyms

apocalyptic

American

[uh-pok-uh-lip-tik] / əˌpɒk əˈlɪp tɪk /

Also apocalyptical

adjective

of or like an apocalypse; affording a revelation or prophecy.
pertaining to the Apocalypse or biblical book of Revelation.
predicting or presaging imminent disaster and total or universal destruction.

the apocalyptic vision of some contemporary writers.

Other Word Forms

apocalyptically adverb
postapocalyptic adjective

Etymology

Origin of apocalyptic

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

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.

Relentless storms and near‑constant rainfall – described as "apocalyptic" by one expert – have brought some of the South West's worst flooding in decades.

From BBC

Still, the apocalyptic folk tales offer an irresistible fable for the times.

From The Wall Street Journal

The combination of the Welshman’s grim poetics and the singer’s apocalyptic incantations gets the set off to a powerful start and signals something entirely new for the Charli XCX oeuvre.

From The Wall Street Journal

Victor recounts apocalyptic scenes at the front near Vovchansk in the Donbas.

From Barron's

And there are plenty of hybrid creatures, apocalyptic nightmares, strange juxtapositions and drooping abnormalities of the melting-watch variety.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023