cataclysm

[ kat-uh-kliz-uh m ]
/ ˈkæt əˌklɪz əm /

noun

any violent upheaval, especially one of a social or political nature.
Physical Geography. a sudden and violent physical action producing changes in the earth's surface.
an extensive flood; deluge.

Origin of cataclysm

1625–35; < Late Latin cataclysmos (Vulgate) < Greek kataklysmós flood (akin to kataklýzein to flood), equivalent to kata- cata- + klysmós a washing

synonym study for cataclysm

1. See disaster.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cataclysm

cataclysm catechism

Example sentences from the Web for cataclysm

British Dictionary definitions for cataclysm

cataclysm
/ (ˈkætəˌklɪzəm) /

noun

a violent upheaval, esp of a political, military, or social nature
a disastrous flood; deluge
geology another name for catastrophe (def. 4)

Derived forms of cataclysm

cataclysmic or cataclysmal, adjective cataclysmically, adverb

Word Origin for cataclysm

C17: via French from Latin, from Greek kataklusmos deluge, from katakluzein to flood, from kluzein to wash