catastrophe

noun

kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē How to pronounce catastrophe (audio)
Definition of catastrophenext
1
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years

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2
as in failure
something that has failed the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophe
  1. disaster
  2. failure
  3. apocalypse
  4. tragedy
  5. calamity
Noun
  • As climate shocks get worse, insurance companies are increasingly dropping homeowners facing risks of hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters.
    Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Developing Highly Detailed Maps Geospatial mapping technology could be better leveraged in disasters.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • Dog owners should check for sweeteners, because some—such as xylitol—can be very dangerous to dogs, leading to low blood sugar and, potentially, liver failure.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
  • The Russell Wilson experiment in Denver was such a failure that he was eventually cut from the team, despite the financial ramifications: the Broncos incurred $85 million in dead salary over the 2024 and 2025 seasons by releasing Wilson, the largest dead cap hit in league history.
    Ben Morse, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of failure
Noun
  • Thinking about hedging an AI apocalypse more broadly leads to two approaches.
    Bill Conerly, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Hulu 'Shaun of the Dead' (2004) Edgar Wright's beloved breakthrough zombie comedy puts a daft spin on an undead apocalypse, with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as loyal best friends ill-prepared for normal everyday life, much less an existential emergency.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • Here is where the films of Mike Leigh, a master of human tragedy and everyday comedy, land on a scale of tragic-comic circumstances.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
  • This monumental tragedy about today and tomorrow used its size and awe to burrow bold ideas into the multiplex.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • The calamity beneath the surface, however, sends our heroes on a race to save 40 people trapped deep underground, including two of their own.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
  • The Bears’ latest calamity ended Thursday with an absolutely astounding final-minute fiasco.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024
Definition of calamity
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.

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Thesaurus Entries Near catastrophe

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catastrophe

catastrophes

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Cite this Entry

“Catastrophe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophe. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on catastrophe

Nglish: Translation of catastrophe for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of catastrophe for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catastrophe

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