disastrous

adjective

di·​sas·​trous di-ˈza-strəs How to pronounce disastrous (audio)
 also  -ˈsa-
1
: attended by or causing suffering or disaster : calamitous
a disastrous flood
2
: terrible, horrendous
a disastrous score
disastrously adverb

Examples of disastrous in a Sentence

Half the city was destroyed by a disastrous fire. The bad weather could have a disastrous effect on the area's tourism industry. His failure to back up the computer files had disastrous consequences. The strike was economically disastrous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile, Biden’s refusal to exit the 2024 presidential race after a disastrous initial debate performance in June kicked off a whirlwind season that gave rise to Harris. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 That unease burst into the open after Biden’s disastrous June debate performance against Trump. Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 Trump could slow the transition to a crawl, with potentially disastrous consequences for the climate, and the world. New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024 This does not stop the organization from scrapping the idea, nor the Democrats from suffering a disastrous midterm defeat. Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disastrous 

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disastrous was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near disastrous

Cite this Entry

“Disastrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disastrous. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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