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.

The upbeat vibe is markedly different from the apocalyptic, at times murderous, sci-fi of today.

From The Wall Street Journal

One piece of data triggers optimism, followed just days, or hours, later by apocalyptic dread.

From Barron's

Italian football journalist James Horncastle said: "It was called apocalyptic the first time they missed out. I don't know what stage of the apocalypse we are in now."

From BBC

There are reasons to question the most apocalyptic forecasts.

From MarketWatch

However, the apocalyptic beliefs surrounding these books are far more recent.

From Salon

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