Armageddon
Armageddon means a final, devastating conflict, or a disaster that seems to threaten everything; the name appears in the biblical Book of Revelation. Today it often describes feared nuclear war, though it can also be used loosely for a much smaller crisis.
Where Armageddon comes from
The biblical gathering place
In the Book of Revelation, Armageddon names the place where kings gather for battle. The name became associated with the final struggle between good and evil.
In Revelation 16, spirits go out to the rulers of the world and gather them for battle at the place called Armageddon.
In Book of Revelation by John of Patmos
A world-threatening disaster
Today Armageddon can mean destruction on an enormous scale, especially through war. Looser uses borrow that sense of a whole world coming to an end.
In The War of the Worlds, crowds flee London as the Martians advance, and familiar streets become scenes of panic and collapse. This is the kind of widespread destruction that people may now describe as Armageddon.
In The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
How to use Armageddon
- Use it for a conflict or disaster with enormous stakes.
- Make any joking exaggeration clear from the context.
- Keep the capital A in Armageddon.
Does Armageddon mean the end of the world?
In everyday use, Armageddon often means a conflict or disaster that could end the world as people know it. In the Book of Revelation, however, it names a gathering place for battle rather than simply naming the world's destruction.
Can Armageddon be used jokingly?
Yes, Armageddon can be used jokingly for a crisis that feels much bigger than it really is. A household argument or a sporting defeat might attract the word, but the exaggeration should be clear, since its usual associations are war and destruction.
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