cataclysm

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: cat=a=clysm

CIDE DICTIONARY

cataclysm, n. [L. cataclysmos, Gr. kataklysmo`s, from to dash over, inundate; kata` downward, against + to wash or dash over: cf. F. cataclysme.].

•  An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

cataclysm, n.
1 a a violent, esp. social or political, upheaval or disaster. b a great change.
2 a great flood or deluge.

Derivative

cataclysmal adj. cataclysmic adj. cataclysmically adv.

Etymology

F cataclysme f. L cataclysmus f. Gk kataklusmos f. klusmos flood f. kluzo wash

THESAURUS

cataclysm

accident, alluvion, alluvium, apoplexy, bloodless revolution, blow, bouleversement, breakdown, breaking up, breakup, calamity, casualty, cataract, catastrophe, cave, cave-in, clean slate, clean sweep, climax, collapse, collision, computer revolution, contretemps, convulsion, counterrevolution, crack-up, crash, debacle, deluge, diastrophism, disaster, engulfment, fit, flood, flooding, grief, ill hap, inundation, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, nasty blow, overflow, overflowing, overrunning, overthrow, overturn, palace revolution, paroxysm, pileup, pour, quake, radical change, revolt, revolution, revolutionary war, revulsion, shipwreck, shock, smash, smashup, spasm, spate, spill, spillage, staggering blow, striking alteration, stroke, submersion, subversion, sweeping change, tabula rasa, technological revolution, temblor, the Deluge, the Flood, tidal wave, torrent, total change, total loss, tragedy, transilience, tsunami, upheaval, upset, violent change, washout, whelming, wrack, wreck

ROGET THESAURUS

cataclysm

Revolution

N revolution, bouleversement, subversion, break up, destruction, sudden change, radical change, sweeping organic change, change of state, phase change, quantum leap, quantum jump, clean sweep, coup d'etat, counter revolution, jump, leap, plunge, jerk, start, transilience, explosion, spasm, convulsion, throe, revulsion, storm, earthquake, cataclysm, legerdemain, unrecognizable, revolutionary.

Destruction

N destruction, waste, dissolution, breaking up, diruption, disruption, consumption, disorganization, fall, downfall, devastation, ruin, perdition, crash, eboulement, smash, havoc, delabrement, debacle, break down, break up, fall apart, prostration, desolation, bouleversement, wreck, wrack, shipwreck, cataclysm, washout, extinction, annihilation, destruction of life, knock-down blow, doom, crack of doom, destroying, demolition, demolishment, overthrow, subversion, suppression, abolition, biblioclasm, sacrifice, ravage, razzia, inactivation, incendiarism, revolution, extirpation, beginning of the end, commencement de la fin, road to ruin, dilapidation, sabotage, destroyed, perishing, trembling to its fall, nodding to its fall, tottering to its fall, in course of destruction, extinct, all-destroying, all-devouring, all-engulfing, destructive, subversive, ruinous, devastating, incendiary, deletory, destroying, suicidal, deadly, with crushing effect, with a sledge hammer, delenda est Carthago, dum Roma deliberat Saguntum perit, ecrasez l'infame.

River

N river, running water, jet, spirt, spurt, squirt, spout, spray, splash, rush, gush, jet d'eau, sluice, water spout, water fall, cascade, force, foss, lin, linn, ghyll, Niagara, cataract, rapids, white water, catadupe, cataclysm, debacle, inundation, deluge, chute, washout, rain, rainfall, serein, shower, scud, downpour, driving rain, drenching rain, cloudburst, hyetology, hyetography, predominance of Aquarius, reign of St. Swithin, mizzle, drizzle, stillicidum, plash, dropping, falling weather, northeaster, hurricane, typhoon, stream, course, flux, flow, profluence, effluence, defluxion, flowing, current, tide, race, coulee, spring, artesian well, fount, fountain, rill, rivulet, gill, gullet, rillet, streamlet, brooklet, branch, runnel, sike, burn, beck, creek, brook, bayou, stream, river, reach, tributary, geyser, spout, waterspout, body of water, torrent, rapids, flush, flood, swash, spring tide, high tide, full tide, bore, tidal bore, eagre, hygre, fresh, freshet, indraught, reflux, undercurrent, eddy, vortex, gurge, whirlpool, Maelstrom, regurgitation, overflow, confluence, corrivation, wave, billow, surge, swell, ripple, anerythmon gelasma, beach comber, riffle, rollers, ground swell, surf, breakers, white horses, whitecaps, rough sea, heavy sea, high seas, cross sea, long sea, short sea, chopping sea, hydrodynamics, hydraulics, hydraulicostatics, rain gauge, flowmeter, pegology, irrigation, pump, watering pot, watering cart, hydrant, syringe, garden hose, lawn spray, bhisti, mussuk, fluent, diffluent, profluent, affluent, tidal, flowing, meandering, meandry, meandrous, fluvial, fluviatile, streamy, showery, rainy, pluvial, stillicidous, stillatitious, for men may come and men may go but I go on foreve, that old man river, he just keeps rolling along.