Apocalyptic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈpɒ.kə.lɪp.tɪk/

Definitions

1. Describing or relating to a catastrophic event that causes widespread destruction or marks the end of the world
2. Characterized by scenarios involving significant societal collapse or transformative events that imply impending doom or major change
3. Pertaining to a vision or depiction of a future marked by calamity, often foretelling devastation or radical upheaval in human existence

Etymology: The Greek "apokalúptō" meant "to uncover" or "to reveal," literally to pull the cover off something. From it came "apokálupsis," "revelation," and the adjective "apokaluptikós," "revelatory." That adjective passed into Latin as "apocalypticus," and English later borrowed it. The word's power comes from its most famous source: the Book of Revelation, whose Greek title is "Apokalypsis Iōannou," "the Revelation of John." Readers of that book, which describes visions of cosmic catastrophe and the end of the world, gave the word its association with doom. So the word began as a neutral term for disclosure, with no hint of destruction. Its sense narrowed over centuries of use, and "apocalyptic" now describes things that foretell or resemble the end of the world. Dramatic events, from natural disasters to nuclear scenarios, are routinely called apocalyptic, even when no literal end is in view.

Synonyms: catastrophic, doomsday, devastating, calamitous, disastrous

Antonyms: hopeful, promising, optimistic, auspicious, favorable