catastrophist

English

Etymology

From catastrophe +‎ -ist.

Adjective

catastrophist (comparative more catastrophist, superlative most catastrophist)

1. Of, having, or being a theory that explains a situation by positing one or more catastrophic events, as opposed to gradual changes.
   • 2023 May 1, Alexander Hurst, “Has France really gone to hell? Its catastrophist discourse is at odds with the facts”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     But there is an incredible disconnect between what tourists see, what foreigners living in France see, what French people living abroad see, what this recently naturalised français sees, and the hyperbolic, catastrophist nature of France’s own domestic discourse about itself (that is, the French people convinced their country has gone to hell).

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “of a theory positing catastrophes”): gradualist

Noun

catastrophist (plural catastrophists)

1. A catastrophist person: a person who subscribes to a catastrophist theory.

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “a catastrophist person”): gradualist

Related terms

• catastrophism