Apocalyptist

/ˌæpəˈkælɪptɪst/ noun

Definition

A person who believes in or preaches apocalyptism; someone who expects the imminent end of the world.

Etymology

From apocalypse + -ist (denoting a person who practices or believes in something). Emerged in religious discourse to identify believers in end-times theology.

Kelly Says

Throughout history, apocalyptists have made specific predictions—from Montanus in the 2nd century to Y2K believers in 1999—and when they're wrong, the movements often reinterpret the failure rather than abandon the belief entirely, a pattern psychologists call 'cognitive dissonance resolution.'

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.