natural disaster

noun

: a sudden and terrible event in nature (such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood) that usually results in serious damage and many deaths
The earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters of this century.

Examples of natural disaster in a Sentence

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.
The strain comes as the two politicians navigate what could be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025 According to the international reinsurance company Munich Re, global losses from natural disasters in 2024 totaled about $320 billion, with 93 percent of the damage caused by weather catastrophes. Alice Hill, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025 Think about some of the recovery from natural disasters in California or North Carolina. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025 In recent years, the number of people with FAIR Plan coverage has grown rapidly as major companies have limited and shed business in the state following years of major wildfires and growing fears about more destructive natural disasters in the future. Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 12 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for natural disaster 

Dictionary Entries Near natural disaster

Cite this Entry

“Natural disaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20disaster. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!