cataclysmal

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌkætəˈklɪzməl/ UK /ˌkætəˈklɪzməl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
of the nature of a cataclysm; catastrophically destructive

The dam's failure had cataclysmal consequences downstream.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · of the nature of a... cataclysmic catastrophic disastrous calamitous devastating ruinous

Word family

Related forms cataclysm cataclysmic

Etymology

From cataclysm (Greek kataklysmos, 'deluge') + the adjectival suffix -al. A variant of cataclysmic.

kataklysmos Ancient Greek klyzein Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# cataclysmal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌkætəˈklɪzməl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkætəˈklɪzməl/

## Meanings
1. of the nature of a cataclysm; catastrophically destructive

## Examples
- The dam's failure had cataclysmal consequences downstream.

## Synonyms
- cataclysmic
- catastrophic
- disastrous
- calamitous
- devastating
- ruinous

## Related Forms
- cataclysm
- cataclysmic

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

## Etymology
From cataclysm (Greek kataklysmos, 'deluge') + the adjectival suffix -al. A variant of cataclysmic.

## AI Etymology
Cataclysmal is an adjective meaning "of the nature of a cataclysm; catastrophically destructive". Historically, it is from cataclysm (Greek kataklysmos, 'deluge') + the adjectival suffix -al. A variant of cataclysmic. The visible construction is part of the etymology: cataclysmal is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "of the nature of a cataclysm; catastrophically destructive", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Ancient Greek kataklysmos with Ancient Greek klyzein. Close English family members include cataclysm, and cataclysmic.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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