cataclysm

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/ UK /ˈkætəˌklɪzəm/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
a violent, large-scale upheaval or disaster

The eruption was a cataclysm that buried the entire valley.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a violent, large-scale... catastrophe disaster upheaval calamity convulsion debacle deluge

Word family

Derived forms cataclysmic cataclysmal

Related forms cataclysmic

Etymology

From Greek kataklysmos ('deluge, flood'), from kataklyzein ('to wash down, inundate'), from kata- ('down') + klyzein ('to wash').

kataklysmos Ancient Greek klyzein Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

# cataclysm

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈkætəˌklɪzəm
**IPA (UK):** ˈkætəˌklɪzəm

## Meanings
1. a violent, large-scale upheaval or disaster

## Examples
- The eruption was a cataclysm that buried the entire valley.

## Synonyms
- catastrophe
- disaster
- upheaval
- calamity
- convulsion
- debacle
- deluge

## Derived Forms
- cataclysmic
- cataclysmal

## Related Forms
- cataclysmic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: kataklysmos
- Root: klyzein

## Etymology
From Greek kataklysmos ('deluge, flood'), from kataklyzein ('to wash down, inundate'), from kata- ('down') + klyzein ('to wash').

## AI Etymology
Cataclysm is a noun meaning "a violent, large-scale upheaval or disaster". Historically, it is from Greek kataklysmos ('deluge, flood'), from kataklyzein ('to wash down, inundate'), from kata- ('down') + klyzein ('to wash'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: cataclysm is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Ancient Greek kataklysmos with Ancient Greek klyzein. Close English family members include cataclysmic, and cataclysmal.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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