earthshaking

American  

[urth-shey-king] / ˈɜrθˌʃeɪ kɪŋ /

Also earth-shattering, or earth-shaking

adjective

1. imperiling, challenging, or affecting basic beliefs, attitudes, relationships, etc.

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earthshaking British  

/ ˈɜːθˌʃeɪkɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal of enormous importance or consequence; momentous

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Other Word Forms

• earthshaker noun

Etymology

Origin of earthshaking

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; earth, shaking

Example Sentences

But silhouettes like this are evoked by the phrase “the art of fixing a shadow,” which is how William Henry Fox Talbot described his earthshaking invention of the negative-positive process that made photographs possible.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

The convergence is a reminder of just how earthshaking #MeToo was for Hollywood.

From New York Times • Oct. 24, 2022

Your music was so loud, and the bass so earthshaking that I just had to investigate while out for my “quiet” evening stroll.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 23, 2022

The billionaire exec spontaneously shares earthshaking company plans, uncredited memes, and bizarre accusations.

From The Verge • Apr. 11, 2022

Then, one rumbling, earthshaking day, it had poured out its heart of boiling, rolling, melting lava, and the round green peak had been blown away.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr