Cataclysm

Meaning

A violent upheaval, disaster, or sudden disruption, geological, political, or economic.

Origin / Etymology

From Greek 'kataklysmos' (flood, deluge), 'kata-' (down) + 'klysmos' (a washing). Originally biblical (Noah's Flood), later figurative for any massive disruption.

Synonyms

Catastrophe Upheaval Maelstrom

Antonyms

Stability Equilibrium Tranquillity

Example Sentence

"Below-normal 2026 monsoon at 92% of LPA need not be a cataclysm if India's groundwater reform and crop-diversification policies absorb the shock."

🎯 UPSC Usage

GS3 Environment / Disaster Management: Use for high-impact, low-probability events, climate cataclysm, economic cataclysm. Avoid overuse; reserve for genuinely systemic disruption.

Relevant Subjects

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