cataclysm

/ˈkætəklɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkætəklɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈka-tə-ˌkli-zəm/ (ame, mw)

cataclysm — noun

  • cataclysmsingular
  • cataclysmsplural

1. a very large disaster or shock that destroys many things and leaves life complet

1.名詞C2
釋義

a very large disaster or shock that destroys many things and leaves life completely changed.

例句

The earthquake was a cataclysm for the small towns nearby.

a cataclysm for + affected people or place

Many families still speak of the war as the cataclysm that changed everything.

the cataclysm that + clause

同義詞
  • catastrophe

    very close in meaning, often stressing severe damage or suffering

  • disaster

    broader and more common; it can describe events smaller than a cataclysm

  • calamity

    more literary and often focused on misery or misfortune

  • upheaval

    stresses violent social or emotional change, sometimes without physical destruction

文法句型

a cataclysm for + person/place

an economic/personal/global cataclysm

the cataclysm that + clause

用法筆記

Often used in formal writing for war, natural disaster, or major social collapse. In personal contexts, it still sounds very strong and usually refers to something that seems to tear life apart, not a routine setback.

常見錯誤

❌Missing the last bus was a cataclysm for me.
✅Losing our home in the fire was a cataclysm for my family.
💡cataclysm is for extreme disaster or life-changing shock, not a small daily problem.
❌The timetable change caused a cataclysm at school.
✅The timetable change caused confusion at school.
💡cataclysm is too strong for an ordinary inconvenience.