apocalypse
noun
apoc·a·lypse
ə-ˈpä-kə-ˌlips 
plural apocalypses
1
a
: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom
b
capitalized
: revelation sense 3
2
a
: something viewed as a prophetic revelation
b
3
a
: a large, disastrous fire : inferno
Most foresters agree that small, "prescribed" burns, carefully controlled, are essential to prevent the larger apocalypse.—
Lance Morrow
Lance Morrow
b
: a great disaster
an environmental apocalypse
Synonyms
Examples of apocalypse in a Sentence
His book tells of an environmental apocalypse.
the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions
Recent Examples on the Web
Rather than address the real force multiplier behind this latest fire, and avoid a climate apocalypse, Republicans would rather make a quick buck off a recall gimmick.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
But before the dino apocalypse, the creatures were thought to be abundant in what's now the United Kingdom.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Citrus greening isn’t the first time Southern California citrus has faced an apocalypse.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland teamed up to create the original 2003 zombie apocalypse film starring then-unknown actor Cillian Murphy.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apocalypse 
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David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
But before the dino apocalypse, the creatures were thought to be abundant in what's now the United Kingdom.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
Citrus greening isn’t the first time Southern California citrus has faced an apocalypse.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland teamed up to create the original 2003 zombie apocalypse film starring then-unknown actor Cillian Murphy.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for apocalypse
Articles Related to apocalypse
Dictionary Entries Near apocalypse
Cite this Entry
“Apocalypse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocalypse. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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