cataclysmal C2+ Topic:Nature & Landscape 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... cataclysmiccatastrophicdisastrouscalamitousdevastatingruinous Word family Related forms cataclysmcataclysmic Etymology AI details From cataclysm (Greek kataklysmos, 'deluge') + the adjectival suffix -al. A variant of cataclysmic. kataklysmos Ancient Greek klyzein Ancient Greek View etymology graph -> Topics Nature & Landscape Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 - Nature & Landscape - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown