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
Based on the popular post-apocalyptic video game franchise of the same name, the TV series is set in 2296, 219 years after the fictional apocalypse occurred.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
Yes, 20 years since a motley group of Brits chose to ride out the zombie apocalypse at their local pub.
—Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Friends later told detectives that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell believed they had been reincarnated and were tasked with gathering people before a biblical apocalypse.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
Here’s a rundown of the major methods being developed to hold back the AI image apocalypse.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Childhood friends and physicists Abby (Melissa McCarthy) and Erin (Kristen Wiig) team with Egon-esque engineer Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty (Leslie Jones) to prevent a ghostly apocalypse in the Big Apple.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
His upcoming projects include the film The Lost Princess (a fantastical story set in a haunted castle) and the series Paper Empire (on which one man's greed threatens the world with a financial apocalypse).
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2024
Internecine strife is perhaps easier when the economic apocalypse is out of sight.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The Walking Dead: World Beyond Taking place a decade after the onset of the zombie apocalypse, The Walking Dead: World Beyond follows a group of four teenagers on a cross-country trek to reconnect with and save their father.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
Yes, 20 years since a motley group of Brits chose to ride out the zombie apocalypse at their local pub.
—Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Friends later told detectives that Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell believed they had been reincarnated and were tasked with gathering people before a biblical apocalypse.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
Here’s a rundown of the major methods being developed to hold back the AI image apocalypse.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Childhood friends and physicists Abby (Melissa McCarthy) and Erin (Kristen Wiig) team with Egon-esque engineer Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) and subway worker Patty (Leslie Jones) to prevent a ghostly apocalypse in the Big Apple.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
His upcoming projects include the film The Lost Princess (a fantastical story set in a haunted castle) and the series Paper Empire (on which one man's greed threatens the world with a financial apocalypse).
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2024
Internecine strife is perhaps easier when the economic apocalypse is out of sight.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The Walking Dead: World Beyond Taking place a decade after the onset of the zombie apocalypse, The Walking Dead: World Beyond follows a group of four teenagers on a cross-country trek to reconnect with and save their father.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apocalypse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 25 Apr. 2024.
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